Deloitte’s plans to hire 700 people in Belfast by 2019 is going far better than planned, with 1,000 jobs now expected to be created after new plans were announced.

Already ahead of schedule, after announcing more than 300 jobs back in 2014, Deloitte’s move to up the numbers significantly comes on the back of plans to turn Belfast into its second-biggest hub (behind London).

The company’s ‘Technology Studio’ will receive the bulk of the new jobs, in areas such as data science and analytics, cybersecurity and digital engineering. Elsewhere, human capital, actuarial, tax and audit practices will also be bolstered.

200 people are already in place (of the 2014 announcement), which came on the back of a £30m investment by the company.

Nick Owen, chairman of Deloitte in the UK, said the new hiring drive “is testament to the success” already delivered by the firm’s Northern Ireland operations.

“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.”

Jackie Henry, senior partner for Deloitte in Belfast, said: “Our meeting with the First and Deputy First Ministers has confirmed our belief that Belfast will continue to be a good place to do business in the years ahead.

“The skills agenda is absolutely critical to Deloitte’s view of Belfast as a centre of excellence and we hope the new Department for the Economy will continue to see value in investing in the local skills base.”

Belfast image via Shutterstock