(L to R ) Sean Canning, Firstsource Solutions; Laura Hourican, Firstsource Solutions; Mark Slaughter, Director General for Investment, Department for International Trade and Kieran Long, Firstsource Solutions at the new centre in Belfast city centre

GLOBAL Business Process Management (BPM) Company Firstsource Solutions has expanded its Belfast presence with a new hub in Belfast city centre.

The Company has invested close to £1 million in a refurbishment of ‘Olive Tree House’, Fountain Street demonstrating an investment in local talent and a commitment to future business growth in Belfast, which will bolster the Northern Ireland economy in the coming years.

These new premises offer capacity for 600 employees and 150 staff have already been relocated.

Olive Tree House is providing customer support for Sky customers in the Republic of Ireland.

Further growth is planned with new business wins across the UK, and there will be up to 450 potential job opportunities across customer service, Human Resources, IT and general management.

Firstsource is one of Northern Ireland’s largest private employers with close to 2,000 staff across Belfast and Derry/Londonderry working with major household names including Sky UK & ROI, Now TV, GiffGaff, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank.

Sean Canning, Chief Operational Officer, Customer Management, Firstsource Solutions said:

“This significant investment will enable us to support and upskill local talent, offer career progression, support the local economy, win new business and continue to support existing clients with world class customer management.

“Our new location at Olive Tree House is a welcome addition to a part of the city where commercial businesses have struggled in recent months due to the well-publicised fire at Primark.

“We are looking forward to bringing footfall back into this area and supporting local businesses further.

“Belfast is a vibrant city and Firstsource is making an important contribution to its future through our innovation and digital capabilities as we help businesses advance customer experience through automation, analytics and process improvements.”

Firstsource is one of the UK’s top 10 contact centre provers and works across the Banking, Financial Services & Insurance, Telecommunications & Media, Utilities and Healthcare sectors.

It is an active advocate for inward investment to Northern Ireland and works closely with government Departments to attract business to the region.

Graham Stuart MP, Minister for Investment said: “I’m delighted a global business like Firstsource continues to see the UK as their destination of choice in Europe.

“Their new investment will help support jobs and drive growth at home and abroad, as their business goes from strength to strength.

“This investment signals a strong vote of confidence in the Northern Irish economy and my department will continue to work hard to ensure the benefits of global investment are felt in every part of the country, and the UK maintains its position as the top destination for FDI in Europe”.