BELFAST digital innovation firm Liberty IT has set out ambitious plans for continued growth during a visit to its offices by Secretary of State Brandon Lewis.
Employing more than 650 people across Northern Ireland and the Republic, Liberty IT develops technologies exclusively for its parent company Liberty Mutual Insurance.
Its recently-appointed managing director Tony Marron said: “We were delighted to give Mr Lewis an insight into the engineering powerhouse that we have created over the last 25 years.
“We are proud of our employees, so it was great for our teams to be able to showcase some of the recent innovative solutions and give a preview of projects currently under development.
“Mr Lewis was particularly interested in how we are using virtual reality to improve collaboration and had the chance to use one of our VR headsets. This is part of an internal pilot that allows our global teams to come together in a virtual environment to collaborate and work together.”
Mr Marron added: “At Liberty IT our talent encompasses a wide spectrum of backgrounds, including engineering, mathematics and science, and we are working together to create breakthrough insurance solutions for Liberty Mutual across the globe.
“We emphasised the need for supporting the continued growth in STEM subjects, which is a key focus for us. The tech industry in Northern Ireland has grown rapidly in recent years, but the biggest challenge is the imbalance in the supply and demand of talent.
“As the tech industry in Northern Ireland continues its exciting growth trajectory, we need to ensure focus on growing the right skills through a joined-up approach between businesses, schools, colleges and universities to develop the tech talent of the future. Mr Lewis recognised this and reflected on a recent school visit where the children gave him a demonstration in coding.”
The Secretary of State congratulated Liberty IT on its incredible success over the years, adding: “This is an exciting time to do business in Northern Ireland. Further inward investment from the US will continue to drive Northern Ireland’s expansion into new business areas, and ensure the continued flourishing of the local tech industry.”
