It is understood that up to 400 new jobs could result from an IDB-backed investment to be announced later today by the UK's biggest life insurance company, the Prudential. It is believed that the firm will announce its intention to invest in a new call centre currently being built at Clarendon Dock in the Laganside area of Belfast.

The company already employs some 200 people in a back-office administration centre in the centre of the city, and it is thought that this operation will now move to the new offices. Another 100 people are employed in branches at Glengormley, Holywood, and Omagh.

Other companies which have invested in call centre operations in the North include British Telecom, which earlier this year opened a £9 million centre which will eventually employ around 750 people, Abbey National, and the National Australia Bank (parent company of the National Irish Bank, the Northern, and the Clydesdale).

Prudential's call centre will be close to the £30 million, 13storey headquarters building currently under construction at Laganside by BT. This will house over 1,100 employees, as well as the company's software engineering centre.