PICTURE BY: WILLIAM CHERRY/PRESSEYE

ENTERPRISE, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster has announced that SSE Airtricity is creating 143 new jobs in Belfast.

The new posts come about due to a relocation of its existing customer service centres in the city to one office complex in Great Victoria Street.

Arlene Foster is pictured after making the announcement with, left, Stephen Wheeler, MD SSE Airtricity and, right, Alastair Hamilton, Chief Executive, Invest NI.

The call centre jobs will be supported with Invest NI grants of almost £700,000.

The company is Northern Ireland’s second largest energy provider, supplying gas and electricity.

The firm currently employs 98 staff in its two Belfast offices, and it expects to relocate to its new premises in September.

The new call centre jobs will be in customer service, sales and administrative support roles.

Said Arlene Foster MLA: “This investment represents further growth in Northern Ireland’s important business services sector, which already boasts a number of international companies that have been attracted here by the cost-competitive environment.

“The salaries for the 143 new jobs will generate an additional £2.7m a year for the economy and the investment confirms SSE Airtricity’s continuing commitment to Northern Ireland.”

SSE Airtricity managing director Stephen Wheeler said: “We chose Northern Ireland because of the talented, youthful, enthusiastic and capable workforce that is available here and which has already played such a vital role in our business growth to date in Northern Ireland.

“The support of Invest NI will help us to continue to invest in developing our talent pool with our existing workforce as well as for the new roles that we will create.”