Oracle IT services centre
for Belfast


24 Mar 2005

Oracle Corporation is to open a €1.6m software services facility in Belfast with support from development agency Invest Northern Ireland (NI).

The facility will employ 17 staff initially with recruitment to begin next month. Roles to be created will include payroll, financial and Oracle DBA (database administrator).

Due to open in May, the site will act as a ‘near-shore’ IT services centre where Oracle software consultants will work on projects for customers based in NI, the rest of the UK as well as the Republic. A similar centre was opened in Dublin last November.

Invest NI is contributing €360k towards the cost of the investment. Trevor Killen, director of Invest NI, Dublin described the announcement as “very positive news for Belfast”. He commented: “First Microsoft, then Citigroup and now Oracle – three world-class companies all benefiting from excellent infrastructure, competitive costs and the rich pool of talented technology graduates at large in our region. Inward investments such as this will help in the positioning of Northern Ireland as an ideal location for technology companies.”

Nicky Sheridan, vice-president and managing director of Oracle Ireland, said the quality of staff and state aid were the twin reasons why Belfast was chosen for the new centre. “We chose NI as the location for this new facility because of the availability of experienced IT professionals with a strong academic background and the support offered by Invest Northern Ireland. In a climate where upskilling has become a priority for many businesses, including our own, a wider pool from which to recruit skilled workers is a welcome development.

“We are looking forward to working in partnership with Invest NI and establishing links with the local universities in the development of new products and services.”

The new Oracle facility will be located in the Laganside area of Belfast.

By Brian Skelly