Online marketing firm creating 60 jobs at new Belfast innovation hub
AROUND 60 jobs are being created as an online loyalty sales business headed by the son of the founder of the English Premier League sets up in Belfast.
Gavin Dein established Reward in 2001. The company works with major global retailers such as Amazon to help optimise their marketing spending by providing loyalty incentives to customers.
Mr Dein, who was formerly engaged to millionaire socialite Tamara Ecclestone, said the investment in the Ormeau Baths office will help accelerate its growth.
His father David Dein co-founded the English Premier League while vice-chairman of Arsenal Football Club.
“When we initially began exdiately
ploring options of where to base our new engineering centre we were considering one of our existing GB locations, or potentially
Eastern Europe,” Mr Dein explained.
“However, we were advised to look at Belfast and were imme- impressed by the skilled workforce available and the strong ICT sector. We are keen to grow quickly and have already begun recruiting.
“One of our core values at Reward is hiring amazing people, it’s a family culture and we’re looking for those who are keen to become part of Reward’s journey, developing this innovative technology in a fast-paced environment.”
He said around 10 of the jobs, with average salaries of £35,000, should be in place by Christmas.
Invest NI is funding the expansion to the tune of £456,000.
Alastair Hamilton, Invest NI chief executive, said: “Reward was attracted to Northern Ireland on the basis of our strong ICT sector and the excellent pool of talented workers available.
“The company plans to create up to 60 new jobs over the next three years, offering attractive salaries and good opportunities to work with disruptive technologies such as blockchain and machine learning.”
Lord Mayor Nuala McAllister said the new office was “further evidence of Belfast’s growing reputation as a global centre of excellence in this field”.
She added: “Just earlier this week we saw the opening of the new Immersive Lab in the city centre, a venture which will further cement our city’s position as a hub for the creative and digital sectors.
“This investment by Reward is a further boost to our credentials as a city at the cutting edge of technological advancement of every kind, and a testament to the will and desire of everyone concerned to attract top quality investors to Belfast.”