IO Solutions is looking to expand operations at its P.E.I. facilities and expects to hire an additional 200 people in the near future.
The company confirmed the new hires for the Journal Pioneer and that it expects them to be split relatively evenly between both facilities.
Pamela Bueno-Lanzetta, public relations co-ordinator for the company, said it has been pleased with its business on the Island to date and looks forward to continuing and expanding here.
“We’re really satisfied with the level of service that we get from Islanders,” said Bueno-Lanzetta.
The Montreal-based company has two customer care call centres on P.E.I.; one in Bloomfield and one in Summerside. The Bloomfield facility has been in operation for a number of years, while the Summerside location opened in the summer of 2016. There is currently a total of about 216 people employed between the two locations.
The Summerside office is located in a building (54 Central St.) that was purchased and renovated by the City of Summerside specifically to house the call centre. The company has a five-year lease with the city.
The company also originally signed an $810,359 labour rebate agreement, for up to 100 jobs, with Innovation P.E.I.
Both the Department of Economic Development and Bueno-Lanzetta confirmed the terms of that agreement have been fulfilled and that the company has no further outstanding financial incentive agreements with the province.
They did, however, say that the door remains open for further expansion and that the province might play a part in that.
“Innovation P.E.I. and IO Solutions are discussing opportunities for the company to continue to expand in Prince Edward Island, but no agreement is in place at this time,” said a spokesperson for the Department of Economic Development.
Bueno-Lanzetta also said that anyone looking to apply for employment can contact the company any time. It is also planning advertising in the near future to help inform the public about how to do so.
@JournalPMacLean
