Deloitte invests over £30m to create 338 high-value jobs in Belfast

Firm announces additional 338 posts in phase two after 177 in phase one last year

DELOITTE in Belfast is investing more than £30m over the next five years creating a further 338 jobs across a range of services including technology.

Phase two, launched today by First Minister, Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, will deliver 338 jobs by 2019 in addition to the 177 positions announced in phase one last year.

When complete the new 338 jobs will inject a massive £11.4m annually in salaries into the local economy and bring the total number employed by Deloitte in Northern Ireland to more than 700.

The company is already in the market for new and larger premises given the success of its Belfast Delivery Centre and the need to house more than 500 extra staff.

Senior partner, Jackie Henry, said; "This is a proud and exciting day for Belfast, Northern Ireland and Deloitte. This significant investment in digital and analytics services as well as finance, pensions and actuarial consulting

tells the world that here in Northern Ireland we have the skills, the wherewithal and the ambition to succeed in globally competitive markets.

"Our schools and colleges, our departments of education and employment and learning and Invest NI can take satisfaction from the fact that they are producing and supporting competently skilled people for a 21st century economy.

"The choice of Belfast for this investment is significant, and was made in the face of strong international competition.

³The excellent performance of the Belfast Technology Studio since it was set up in 2011, together with the support from government, made Northern Ireland stand out as the best place to grow this aspect of our business.²

She thanked the First and Deputy First ministers, DETI minister Arlene Foster, Invest NI and DEL minister Stephen Farry for their support.

"The encouragement and help given by the Department for Enterprise Trade and Investment remains significant and we are delighted to have them as partners in this venture," added Mrs Henry.

While many of the jobs being created are in technology, that in turn has given a platform for the growth of other service areas such as tax, finance and pensions and actuarial consulting. Indeed Deloitte has a close partnership with

the actuarial degree course offered by Queen¹s University, offering careers and work experience to students.

"The range of work to be carried out by these new staff is broad and exciting and at the leading edge of global services fulfilment," said Jackie Henry. "The services will attract work from client companies around the world.²

Following the firm¹s phase-one announcement the business is on track to fill the initial 177 posts. Recruitment is moving forward rapidly and the additional 338 posts announced today will be in place by 2019.

Information on these new jobs and other career opportunities with Deloitte can be found at http://jobs.deloitte.com/uk/belfast-jobs or http://www.deloittedigital.com/eu/careers

ENDS