German company arvato Finance has moved to new premises in Dublin’s Eastpoint Business Park and is creating 100 additional jobs, after having reached its target 150 new jobs two years early. The 150 jobs promised last year have been already filled in IT, consulting, finance and accounting, project management and customer services roles. Supporting the growing demand for business process outsourcing services, arvato is set to expand further and 100 positions have been created across its network with over 60 positions currently available and 40 recently recruited. Dublin continues to be a strategic centre of knowledge and innovation for arvato Finance, which has been operating from Ireland for over 16…

In a report on residential mortgages in Ireland, Moody’s says debt write-down is the only way to fix the problems. According to the ratings agency, the mortgage crisis will only peak next year and one in five mortgages will then be in default. Examining €66bn worth of home loans, not including buy-to-let properties, the report said it expects mortgage arrears to peak in 2013, with 20pc of all mortgages in arrears. It also noted that Irish house prices have already fallen by 50.3pc between September 2007 and July 2012 and it expects that they will fall a further 20pc from the levels seen today. Karina Corbett

Irish brand Dubarry is opening its first flagship store in the last remaining retail space in the redevelopment of 35 College Green in Dublin. It will be next door to the new Abercrombie & Fitch outlet in the development, which also houses British fashion brand Superdry. Dubarry’s unit is made up of around 170 sq m of retail space with additional storage. The marketing director of Dubarry Michael Walsh said this was a very significant step in the continued development of the brand. “Although known primarily for footwear and in particular “Dubes” deck shoes here in Ireland, our international premium performance lifestyle collection has expanded significantly to include clothing, bags,…

Minister for Research and Innovation Sean Sherlock TD has launched the Smart Futures STEM Careers Week to encourage secondary students to pursue careers in the science, technology, engineering and related sectors. Part of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs, the initiative is a new phase of the Smart Futures programme run by Discover Science and Engineering (DSE) through Science Foundation Ireland. “Most of our children’s career opportunities will be built around harnessing new and evolving technologies that are only now establishing themselves. It is critically important that we give students a window into those industries and the experiences of people working in them,” the Minister said. “The Smart Futures STEM…

The fourth annual Irish Times InterTradeIreland Innovation Awards have been launched with a closing date for applications of 3 December 2012. Companies can enter in one of six categories in the 2013 awards: agri-food innovation; life sciences innovation; greentech innovation; business services innovation; social innovation; creative industries innovation. Each category winner will secure a €10,000 Irish Times media deal and compete to win the overall title of ‘Innovation of the Year’ which awards the winner with a communications and advertising package from The Irish Times worth €150,000. In addition, a University College Dublin scholarship for an executive education programme commencing in 2014, an i-Pad and a consultancy package will also…