Jobs boost as Newry’s MJM Group wins €5m boat contract

A Newry company has managed to beat off stiff international competition to win a five million euro refurbishment contract for a Scandinavian Ferry operator.  MJM Group, who won the contract despite bids from six other international companies, announced that it would lead to the creation of 16 new jobs, both at graduate and shop floor level.

The firm was founded in 1983 as a specialist joinery sub-contractor and has since developed into an international Project Management Contractor with divisions in Specialist Joinery, Marine refurbishment and Public Area Fit Out.   MJM Marine will begin work on the Swedish ferry, part of the Stena RoRo fleet which sails between Sweden and Denmark at the end of February.

MJM Managing Director Jonathan Guest said that the ship would go into dry dock in a shipyard in Sweden to be stripped right back to its steel work.

“And then, manufactured from our factory in Newry, we will be sending out all the furniture and equipment, fitting out the entire vessel, bringing it up to a very high standard.”

MJM, operating from 100,000 sq ft of factory space in Carnbane Business Park in Newry, has worked with a number of shipping companies in the past including Carnival Cruise Lines, Cunard, Holland America and Royal Caribbean.  The global company boasts offices in London, France and Poland and services markets in UK, Europe, USA, the Far East and Australia.

Employment and Learning Minister, Dr. Stephen Farry, praised the Newry firm’s success in securing the lucrative refurbishment contract, during a visit to their Newry premises.

Commending the management and staff, the Minister said: “The hard work that MJM have put into securing and delivering these recent contracts has positioned them as a major global contractor in the cruise ferry market. This has meant they have grown their staff from 74 to 118 and have more than trebled their turnover to over £30 million in just the last three years.  They have invested heavily in their workforce development to enable them to take on larger and more complex projects.

“I particularly point to the company’s use of my Department’s Apprenticeships NI programme which has allowed delivery of high quality training to ensure that MJM maintains competitive advantage in the current economic climate. Their success clearly demonstrates the ability of Northern Ireland-based companies to be competitive in international markets.”

MJM Managing Director Jonathan Guest said:  “We are delighted that our strategy of becoming the leading contractor within the cruise ferry market in Europe is paying dividends.  Our reputation and capacity for carrying out the highest quality work in very short lead-times is a credit to all our employees in MJM.”

The company’s achievement has also been congratulated by SDLP Newry and Armagh MLA, Dominic Bradley, who said the securement of the contract and the resulting jobs boost  “offers hope to local businesses and people out of work in the constituency.”

Mr Bradley said: “This is a tremendous achievement by MJM Marine and is testament to their hard work, innovation, great track record and strong bidding skills.

“They are a fine example of a local business going against the stormy  financial current and sailing to success in the international market.

“I am delighted that 16 new jobs are now to be created by the firm to carry out this refit which will offer hope to the many tradesmen and skilled people in our area who are out of work at present.

“This contract will also be a boost to other local firms giving them hope and inspiration.

“On behalf of the SDLP, I would like to congratulate all those involved in securing this contract.”