CGI, the global IT and business consulting services firm has established a base in Northern Ireland initially investing in a Centre of Digital Excellence in Belfast, with plans to create at least 50 new jobs here in the short term.

These are the first Northern Ireland based roles for the company, adding to its existing UK workforce of almost 6,000 professionals and over 91,000 worldwide.

 The Canadian company, founded in 1976 delivers transformative digital services to empower organisations and enhance the lives of citizens. They develop and implement bespoke IT systems for leading organisations such as HSBC and the BBC, and provide innovative digital solutions for many government departments, agencies and councils across the UK.

 The company’s ambitions for Northern Ireland will see it continue to develop great local talent to help deliver world-class IT capabilities and solutions to meet the evolving digital needs of both local and global customers.

 In Northern Ireland, this will focus initially on the public sector and CGI global customers, who already operate in Northern Ireland, who can benefit from the company’s global expertise and innovation. With core capabilities and credentials in areas like justice, land management, critical national infrastructure, health and local council services, CGI are looking forward to bringing that experience and expertise to bear in Northern Ireland.

 A significant differentiator for CGI is that employees are also ‘members’ of the company and most staff are shareholders. This gives employees the incentive to make decisions in the best interests of clients while at the same time driving their own careers. CGI also operate a metro-based model of working meaning that members live where they work, delivering projects that benefit local citizens while actively supporting their local communities.

CGI also has plans to work with local universities, the wider research community and technology startups to bring forward exciting innovation and IP. The ambition is that this approach will give the company confidence to grow their NI presence even further. While doing so, CGI will also be focused on delivering social value outcomes locally.

 CGI has recently secured its position in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work List 2023 with an 89% average engagement score and 14% above the IT industry average rating.

 You can find out more about CGI’s plans from this video from a recent stakeholder event in Belfast. https://www.cgi.com/uk/en-gb/video/northern-ireland/belfast-stakeholder-event