NORTHERN IRELAND

Overview: Hi-tech expertise, industrial ingenuity and a great lifestyle, make Northern Ireland an attractive inward investment location. Its economy has been transformed in recent decades, moving from a traditional manufacturing base to a service-led, outward looking knowledge economy. A flourishing services sector reflects the growth of a knowledge-led economy, which has outpaced that of the UK as a whole.

There are now over 700 foreign-owned companies employing some 70,000 people in the province. A testament to the success of their investments is continued reinvestment by nearly three-quarters of these companies. A young well-educated workforce is among the attractions. Nearly 60% of the population of 1.7 million is under 40 years old, providing Northern Ireland with a stream of fresh talent; yet salary costs are up to 30 per cent lower than other similar European locations. Employees have a strong work ethic and sense of loyalty, and one of the lowest labour turnover rates in Europe.

The two world-class universities of Queen’s University, Belfast and the University of Ulster have globally-recognised research centres across a range of disciplines and a strong track record in commercialisation of research and in spinning-off successful business ventures.

“The calibre of the people recruited to date, and their wealth of experience in the design and development of large scale telecommunications software solutions, has been exceptional.”
Tim Fritzley, CEO, Intune Networks

Key sectors: ICT, financial and business services, including customer call and contact-centre based activities, life sciences, aerospace, engineering, life sciences and manufacturing.

R&D strengths: software, electronics, computer chips, communications and information technology, internet, e-commerce; life sciences, health, environmental sciences, renewable energy, biomedical sciences, medicine; engineering.

Major investors include: 3PAR, Aepona, Allstate Corporation, Almac Sciences, Amphion Semiconductors, Asidua, Audio Processing Technology (APT), AXA Insurance, BT, Bank of Ireland, BioKinetic Europe, Bombardier Aerospace, BroadSoft, BTI Systems, Bytemobile, Canyon Europe Ltd, CaridianBCT, Caterpillar, CEVA Ltd, Citi, Coca-Cola Bottlers, Copeland, Crossbows Optical Ltd, CyberSource, Daewoo Electronics, Danske Bank, DuPont, F5 Networks, Fintec Crushing and Screening Ltd, First Derivatives, Firstsource, Fujitsu Services, Fusion Antibodies, Galen Holdings plc, gem, Goodrich Engine Control Systems, HCL Technologies BPO Services, HML, HP, Halifax (HBoS), Hathaway Systems, Hughes Christensen, IceMOS Technology, ICICI, Intelliden, Intune Networks, Kiel Pharma, Liberty Mutual Group, Lloyds Banking Group, MDS Pharma Services, Intel, Meridian Medical Technologies, mFormation, Michelin, Microsoft, Multimedia Infotech, NACCO, NYSE Euronext, NaviNet, Norbrook Laboratories, Nortel Networks, Oracle Corporation, Perfecseal, Philips Healthcare Informatics, Polaris Software Lab, Prudential, Quinn Direct Insurance, Quinn Glass, Randox Laboratories, Raytheon Systems, Regus, Rimedia, Sandvik, Santander, SAP Research Engineering Centre, Seagate Technology, Short Brothers plc, Singularity, Skillsoft, Softedge Systems, Steria, Stream International, TDK, Tech Mahindra, TeleTech, Teleperformance, Toshiba, Tyco Healthcare, Warner Chilcott, FG Wilson Engineering Ltd, Wombat.

Grants: Northern Ireland offers a competitive package of financial incentives, including Selective Financial Assistance (SFA) grants and Grant for R&D, which combines financial support with practical advice from innovation experts.

Office Availability: Office Broker offers a comprehensive free office search facility. Click the button to view details of offices available anywhere in the UK.