Innovation and Advanced Learning Minister Allen Roach, left, Michael Pearson, President of CONTAX, and Mike Gillis, of ITAP, attend a press conference Wednesday in Charlottetown annoucing an expansion of Contax on P.E.I.
Michael Pearson fell in love with Prince Edward Island the second he stepped foot on it — the quality of life and the business climate.
So it didn’t take much effort to convince the president and co-founder of a leader in business software solutions to expand its operation into Charlottetown.
Contax will be moving into the Atlantic Technology Centre and is immediately looking to hire five employees with a goal to add 37 jobs within the next five years.
As part of the province’s labour rebate program delivered by Innovation P.E.I., Contax will receive funding from the provincial government based on the number of jobs it creates with a total contribution of $675,000.
“We’re looking to expand our workforce where we can build a stable base of employees — long-term employees, which in the knowledge-based industry is difficult to do in some of the major markets,’’ Pearson said following a press conference to announce the company’s expansion to P.E.I. on Wednesday.
Contax needs to hire five information technology professionals now and those people will, in turn, train future employees, whether they come from UPEI, Holland College or people working away that want to come home.
Current positions offered include SAP professionals and those with a technical background in science and engineering. SAP is an enterprise resource planning software application used by mid- to large-sized companies such as McCains in New Brunswick.
Pearson, a native Australian, said the jobs in Charlottetown will pay $50,000 to $70,000 a year.
“We’re looking to hire and train new employees and we’ll provide the skills that they require to be efficient in our industry.’’
Innovation Minister Allen Roach said government sees a bright future in the province for the IT industry.
“We are helping increase our exports and helping to increase jobs,’’ Roach said. “This is an excellent opportunity for talented IT and business professionals to gain valuable employment in Prince Edward Island.’’
Contax is not a startup company. Headquartered in Toronto, they’ve got more than 100 customers worldwide, including consumer packaging good companies, pharmaceutical companies and those in the automotive industry.
“We have a demand which is currently beyond our capacity to supply right now, which is the reason why we need to hire additional staff,’’ Pearson said.
He said the company set three criteria for P.E.I. — solid education, a vibrant business climate and quality of life.
Pearson seemed genuinely impressed by P.E.I.’s quality of life, evidenced by his repeated references to it at the press conference and in private chats later.
Pearson said, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, that Contax would have given very serious thought to coming to Charlottetown with or without government incentives because “it’s just a great place to be with great people’’.
Pearson also predicted that other businesses will follow Contax to P.E.I. for the same reasons they did.
Contax will operate out of the Atlantic Technology Centre for the next year before deciding whether to find other accommodations in the capital.
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