Tech company investment brings Belfast jobs boost

Diane Dodds welcomed the development, saying it will contribute £3.2m to the Northern Ireland economy each year through annual salaries”.

The company specialises in providing data to clients mostly operating in the financial technology sector.

A recruitment process is underway – seeking software engineers as well as data and business analysts – with 35 of the posts already filled.

The Department of the Economy said Invest NI has worked with AquaQ Analytics over many years and is now offering the company £861,000 of support towards the creation of the new jobs.

Mrs Dodds said the significant is welcome news “as we work to rebuild the economy post-pandemic,” and added: “The potential of our digital sector was at the core of my recently published medium term economic recovery plan. ‘Rebuilding a Stronger Economy’ sets out a framework to deliver higher paying jobs, a highly skilled workforce and a more regionally balanced economy.

“Big data is a rapidly growing area of Northern Ireland’s tech sector. It is important to utilise and optimise data to obtain valuable business information that will help to revive industry sectors like hospitality and tourism following Covid-19.”

AquaQ Analytics’ chief technology officer Jonny Press said: “We are delighted to be expanding our Belfast team and have invested in new premises to support this growth, which we hope to move into when the time is right.

“The support we have received from Invest NI to create the new jobs, along with its continued advice and guidance, has played an integral part in our growth plans. These jobs will enable us to broaden the skillset across our team, increase the global reach of our business and meet the needs of our growing client base.”