CLOUD-based software Applied Systems is to establish a new research and development facility at its Belfast Gasworks centre which will see it taking on 50 more IT staff, contributing an extra £1.3 million a year in salaries into the local economy.
The company, which has its headquarters in Illinois and employs more than 1,500 people in North America, Canada, Britain and Ireland, says the expansion is required to support its growth strategy across its entire product portfolio.
Applied Systems, which came into the Northern Ireland market two years ago when it acquired Belfast-based Relay Software, creates and licenses software for the global insurance market.
Indeed its 'Applied Epic' product is the fastest growing and currently most widely used cloud-based broker management system in the world.
The 50 posts in Belfast (19 jobs are already in place and support global initiatives) will be involved in developing and supporting Applied Systems’ existing solutions, including the establishment of an eCommerce Centre of Excellence.
Invest NI has offered the company more than £325,000 to support its employment and training activities.
Applied Systems' chief executive Reid French, said: “This investment is part of our strategy to expand our customer base in the UK and is in response to the continued growth of IT spending in the global insurance market.
“The team in Belfast will be central to adapting, delivering and expanding our global cloud-based products to the UK marketplace and will enable us to deliver ‘Follow the Sun’ customer support to our customer base worldwide.
“The availability of talented, young engineers along with the supportive, established relationships with local universities and Invest NI made Northern Ireland a natural fit for us to grow our business.”
Jeremy Fitch, Invest NI’s executive director of business and sector development, said: “Cloud computing is a rapidly emerging industry with significant export potential and we have a growing cluster of software investors choosing to grow their business in Northern Ireland.
“This investment by Applied Systems demonstrates its confidence in our local skills base and further emphasises the region’s reputation for excellence in this sector.
“The Belfast office will support the company’s ambition to expand its client base in the UK, provide 24/7 support for North America and further product innovation globally.”
