Deloitte to create 300 jobs in Northern Ireland

Deloitte is to create an additional 300 jobs in Northern Ireland as part of an ongoing investment programme that is expected to grow its local workforce to 1,000 by 2020.

Two years ago the professional services firm said it would create a further 338 jobs in Belfast over a five year period as part of £30 million investment project backed by £2.6 million in funding from Invest NI.

But today in Belfast Deloitte’s UK chairman, Nick Owen, said the company was well ahead of its original recruitment plan and currently employs 460 people with another 43 young people set to join through Deloitte’s BrightStart Apprenticeship Scheme in September.

Mr Owen said he is confident that by 2020 Deloitte in Belfast will be the firm’s largest office outside London.

“That is testament to the success that the team here has enjoyed since announcing significant expansion plans and the breadth of expertise within the business.

“This commitment by Deloitte reflects the confidence we have in Belfast as a great place to do business and a hotbed of talent, particularly for graduates and school-leavers. It also demonstrates our continued commitment to social mobility as a core part of our talent strategy and our desire to continue to further deliver on this commitment in Northern Ireland,” Mr Owen added.

Earlier in the day he together with Deloitte's UK chief executive David Sproul had met the North's First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness in Belfast.

Mr Owen said the political leaders had outlined their economic priorities to the company and gave them “the assurances necessary to proceed with this investment.”

It was their first major business engagement since reassuming their respective Executive roles and First Minister Arlene Foster said the latest jobs boost by Deloitte, is in her opinion, “a strong endorsement of Northern Ireland’s dynamic economy.”

The deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness also believes it sends a strong message to other investors.

“This announcement today demonstrates the Deloitte determination to invest in our economy and the scale of their ambition. Investment by companies like Deloitte signals to other potential investors we continue to offer an attractive ‘pro-business’ environment,” he said