Belfast is to gain more than 100 new jobs as energy company SSE Airtricity is adding to its workforce.

The company is creating 143 positions following a relocation of its existing premises here.

The 98 staff already employed by the energy firm will move from their current locations in September to join the new workers in the new corporate site at Millennium House on Great Victoria Street.

The fresh intake will be to fill roles in customer service, sales and administrative support to cater for the company’s growing energy retail operations.

Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster announced the expansion on Tuesday morning.

She said the investment "represents further growth in Northern Ireland’s important business services sector".

“The salaries for the 143 new jobs will generate an additional £2.7million a year for the economy and the investment confirms SSE Airtricity’s continuing commitment to Northern Ireland," she said.

The Minister also added that Invest Northern Ireland has offered almost £700,000 of support for the jobs and associated training through its Skills Growth Programme.

She said this was a key element in attracting the new jobs to Belfast.

Stephen Wheeler, SSE Airtricity Managing Director, said:

“We chose Northern Ireland because of the talented, youthful, enthusiastic and capable workforce that is available here and which has already played such a vital role in our business growth to date in Northern Ireland.

“The support of Invest NI will help us to continue to invest in developing our talent pool with both our existing workforce as well as for the new roles that we will create.”

Belfast Telegraph