ONE of the north's biggest employers has opened a new "world class" £30 million Belfast office.
Allstate, the largest IT company in Northern Ireland, employing over 2,000 staff, officially opened its Mays Meadow base yesterday.
The new building, which is in excess of 140,000 sq ft and sustained 150 jobs during construction, is understood to be the largest single office building built in Northern Ireland for 15 years and will house Allstate employees providing technology, cybersecurity, business and accountancy services to its US parent company, the Allstate Corporation.
The Northern Ireland headquarters, located between Belfast Central railway station and the River Lagan, was completed in two years, spans six floors and includes large, sociable working spaces, a restaurant, break-out areas, outdoor terrace and high-tech software development labs.
Speaking at the official launch, managing director of Allstate Northern Ireland, John Healy said the building delivers a "stimulating, collaborative working environment" for employees.
"The impressive design fits the requirements of our world-class organization and supports our outstanding employees in defining, delivering and maintaining technology now and for the future.”
Suren Gupta, executive vice president, Allstate Technology and Strategic Ventures, said the office is part an overall business "transformation".
"This investment in a modern new workplace is part of our corporate business transformation, which is focused on innovating to better serve our customers.”
The new facility was opened by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Karen Bradley, who thanked Allstate for the "pivotal" role they have placed in developing the north's economy.
“Allstate has been instrumental in showing that with ambition and vision, a company can grow their workforce tenfold. Not only have they created one of Northern Ireland's first major IT inward investors, but they have tapped into the wealth of talent that the Northern Ireland workforce provides to overseas investors, providing high-quality jobs across Belfast and the north west.
Allstate Northern Ireland was founded in January 1999 and has three offices in Belfast, Derry and Strabane. It is a subsidiary of the Allstate Corporation, one of the largest publicly owned property and casualty insurance companies in the US.
