Jobs blow at retail chain

Shop Electric's parent company has gone into administration

Over 300 jobs are to go in Northern Ireland following redundancy announcements by an electrical retail chain and a technology company in Belfast.

Shop Electric has confirmed that it is making 285 staff redundant in its stores across the province.

The statement follows fears last week that the jobs were at risk after the company announced it had gone into administration.

The company's 35 stores, including the Electric World outlets, have been closed.

The company is owned by Gateshead-based Northern Electric Retail.

Buyer

It runs 25 shops in the north of England and has also gone into administration.

Customers who have paid for goods on their credit cards and who have not received them have been advised to contact their credit card provider.

Meanwhile 75 employees at technology company Analog Devices Ltd have been put on redundancy notice.

Staff at the west Belfast plant have been warned they are likely to lose their jobs by the end of the month.

The former Queen's University spin-off company was bought over by an American technology firm in November 2000.

During the summer, the parent company decided to sell the west Belfast firm as a going concern but it was unable to find a buyer.