Almost 300 jobs are being created in Belfast by a leading global operator of business centres, it was announced today.
The New York and London headquartered multi-national Regus Group is to invest £4.4 million (sterling) and create 295 jobs in the first multi-lingual shared services centre development in Northern Ireland.
The centre, which will initially be based in the company's existing premises in Clarendon Dock, will provide administrative, accounting and operational support for the Regus Group, which has more than 400 business centres in 50 countries.
Announcing the jobs boost, Northern Ireland Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Sir Reg Empey said it was a welcome development.
The jobs will be built up over the next four years, offering high quality posts ranging from multi-lingual administrative positions to high-level financial posts.
"It [the development] will provide hard evidence to other potential investors of the benefits of locating this type of investment in Northern Ireland," Mr Empey said.
Those benefits included the availability of multi-lingual and professional financial and administrative staff, an attractive support structure and a world-class telecommunications infrastructure.
Speaking at the announcement in Belfast, Regus communications director, Mr Stephen Jolly, said the company goal was to become the leading provider of high quality business services to the global economy.
"We considered a number of possible locations across Europe for this investment, but chose Northern Ireland for the unrivalled availability of well-educated and skilled people, with the motivation and dedication that is vital to the success of this kind of project," he said.
In March this year the company was offered almost £1.7 million government assistance towards the £4 million project.
PA