Global Innovation and Transformation Consultancy Firm Expands Digital Team
PA Consulting, a global innovation and transformation consultancy with over 2,600 specialists worldwide, is continuing to expand and enhance its digital expertise with the creation of 400 jobs in Belfast over the next five years.
Speaking about this major investment, Anita Chandraker, Global Head of Innovation Services and a member of the PA Consulting Board, said: “To meet the needs of our clients, we are continually growing our team of digital specialists. Our digital team helps our clients to use digital technologies to adapt and transform their operations in an era of disruptive change.
“We thought long and hard about where was the best place for our next phase of expansion, and considered factors such as the talent pool, the current technology sector, salaries, education and universities, and infrastructure. Northern Ireland ticked all the boxes. These factors, combined with the offer of support from government, made it the logical choice.”
Welcoming the announcement, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Karen Bradley MP said: “The announcement by PA Consulting shows that Northern Ireland continues to punch well above its weight in terms of proving itself as a top destination to invest and do business. This project will create 400 jobs over the next five years. Once the project is fully established it will generate over £14.5 million in wages annually, and be a significant boost to the Northern Ireland economy.”
PA Consulting has been offered nearly £4 million of government support to secure this investment for Northern Ireland. The company has already recruited a team of nearly 40 people, including 25 digital specialists.
The move builds on PA’s existing digital innovation, transformation, design and engineering expertise and their recent acquisition of leading digital insight and strategy agency, Sparkler. At a time when new technologies, business models and customer expectations are disrupting the ways organisations create and capture value, PA works with clients worldwide in both the public and private sectors to diffuse the threats and seize new opportunities through sustainable digital transformation.
Alastair Hamilton continued: “As well as our support to help create the new roles, the Department for the Economy will also be running a series of Assured Skills academies to provide pre-employment skills training for 155 of the 400 jobs to ensure the new recruits are able to hit the ground running. PA has a long track record and world-class expertise in digital innovation and transformation. With offices worldwide and a Global Innovation and Technology Centre in Cambridge, the team in Belfast joins an experienced cadre of scientists, engineers, developers and technologists.
“The initial focus for PA will be on Digital Engineering. With roles from graduate-level developers through to Senior Engineering roles available there are opportunities for those interested in digital technology to work on projects involving Dev Ops, software development, data analytics, security, and automated intelligence.”
Anita Chandraker added: “Digital assets now do more to drive revenues, margins and market capitalisation than physical assets, and the use of digital technologies, such as the Internet of Things, cloud and blockchain continues to grow. Added to this, changes in the competitive landscape and customer expectations mean that organisations worldwide need to rapidly deliver, launch and adapt new products and services, and exploit digital opportunities in an agile way.”
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