Version 1, one of Ireland and the UK's leading AI and digital transformation companies, last week celebrated two landmark achievements simultaneously: the company's 30th anniversary in business and the appointment of its 600th employee at its Belfast office.
The 600th employee joined through the Assured Skills Academy programme and will begin their career at Version 1 as part of a newly standardised career pathway designed to provide employees a strong foundation before progressing into consultancy, management, business analysis, or other specialist roles.
"Reaching 600 employees in Belfast is a phenomenal milestone, and to mark it on the same day as our 30th anniversary kick off makes it all the more special," said Lorna McAdoo, Director of ESG and Site Lead at Version 1's Belfast office. "When I think about where we came from and the 600 faces now coming into that building every day, I couldn't be prouder of what this team has built."
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Version 1's Belfast office has grown into a strategic hub for the wider organisation, delivering a suite of services including cloud, intelligent applications, data and managed services that are enhanced by AI to clients across public and private sectors. Central to that growth has been the company's reputation for employee engagement and a people-first culture.
"People in the marketplace want to work for an organisation where they can see it growing, where they know there's potential and security," said McAdoo. "The feedback we consistently hear is that our employee engagement is absolutely brilliant. Keeping our employees, making sure they feel engaged, that they belong, that they have a voice and a great career ahead of them, that is top of my agenda this year."
Version 1 has also positioned itself as an AI-first organisation, using artificial intelligence to drive productivity and efficiency internally while helping clients do the same. Rather than displacing roles, the company views AI as a tool to make employees' working lives more fulfilling.
"AI has not impacted us in terms of the number or type of roles," said McAdoo. "What it does is take away the tasks that consume time, so that our people can focus on higher-level, more strategic work. Whether you're a software engineer, a business analyst, or a tester, I genuinely believe that when AI is used in the right way, people will feel more fulfilled in their roles as a result."
This commitment to AI literacy is reflected in Version 1's internal learning programmes. Now in its third year, the company's dedicated 'AI-first” initiative sees all employees engage with the latest AI developments throughout the year, including insights from customers who have deployed AI solutions in partnership with Version 1. An AI Steering Group also provides governance, evaluating new tools for ethical responsibility before they are adopted across the business.
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Looking ahead, Version 1 has ambitious plans for its Belfast operation, with further announcements expected that will reaffirm the company's growth trajectory in Northern Ireland. For McAdoo, the destination is clear.
"Anyone who knows me knows I've had two objectives from pretty much day one at Version 1 in Belfast," she said. "And one of them is to reach 1,000 employees. We will keep going."
About Version 1
Version 1 is a global leader in AI and technology services, founded in Ireland in 1996. With over 3,700 employees globally and revenues exceeding €400 million, the company has a distinctive approach to business transformation. Its ability to co-create with customers delivers extraordinary outcomes by combining extensive industry knowledge and deep technology expertise. Version 1’s vision is to be the catalyst for a better world where technology complements human innovation to solve the most complex challenges facing society. For more information visit version1.com. Check out the current open roles and career opportunities on https://syncni.com/company/version-1
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