Aflac NI is celebrating its first year in Northern Ireland following the opening of its state-of-the-art new IT and cyber-security hub.
Fortune 500 company Aflac Incorporated took its first tentative steps into Northern Ireland's tech scene back in October 2019 when it opened a temporary office at River House in Belfast. Now a year on, Aflac Northern Ireland is growing rapidly with 65 employees on board and a new 11,000 square foot office.
The company set itself a target of recruiting 150 local tech staff by 2023, but is already ahead of target after hiring 65 staff. It's also opened a state-of-the-art office at Belfast's City Quays to become a global IT and cyber-security innovation centre, and has signed a 10-year lease with Belfast Harbour for the space.
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Invest NI helped bring Aflac to Northern Ireland by supporting the creation of the new jobs being created, and the local government has helped deliver Assured Skills Academies. The company provides insurance to over 50 million people in the US and Japan, with the Northern Ireland team supporting roles across mobile development, cloud development, and intelligent surveillance technology.
Economy Minister Diane Dodds said: "Despite these extraordinary global economic challenges, Aflac NI have made considerable achievements in a short space of time. These achievements, along with their recruitment ambitions and the talent they have already employed through the Assured Skills Academies, demonstrate just how attractive Belfast and Northern Ireland is as a highly-competitive destination for investment."
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Aflac NI Managing Director Keith Farley commented: "We have painted the words ‘Resilient, Reinventive and Adaptable’ on our office walls because that is the experience we have had in Northern Ireland, particularly as we initiated our program here immediately prior to a global pandemic. Belfast has quickly become a part of the Aflac story, and we hope to play a part in Belfast’s story in return. We’re proud of our achievements in our first year – and we’re only getting started."
Source: Written based on press release
