The Northern Ireland-owned IT company ICS Computing will invest £2.6 million sterling (€4.13 million) in two local plants creating almost 200 jobs over the next three years.
The investment is part of an expansion plan that will see 144 jobs at a new facility in Newtownards, Co Down, and a further 53 at the company's Belfast offices. It is backed by the North's Industrial Development Board, which will provide almost £1 million in selective financial assistance.
ICS is owned by W&R Barnett, a long-established feed milling business in Belfast, and its directors. Up to 1999 it was part of the US-based UniComp Group. ICS clients include Texaco, PPP Healthcare, Inner London Magistrates Court and Historic Scotland. The investment is aimed at developing the company's business opportunities in Britain for its payroll services. The North's Enterprise Minister, Sir Reg Empey, said it was encouraging that ICS was prepared to invest outside Belfast.
He added the expansion was also a response to ICS's involvement in a Training and Employment Agency scheme to enable long-term unemployed to gain nationally recognised payroll certificates.
ICS's managing director, Mr David Mawhinney, said the expansion was aimed at securing a reputation as a cost-effective and customer-focused operation in a rapidly growing market.
