Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Deloitte-ful move Tax giant in transfer to new hub
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Deloitte has announced plans to move into Belfast’s new Bedford Square development to form the firm’s largest office by headcount outside London.
The project will see staff transfer from the professional services company’s other Ulster bases to the Ewart Building.
It will accommodate all of Deloitte’s core business areas, including audit, tax and consulting and will also see a new Deloitte Digital and Greenhouse space.
The firm said it aims to grow it’s Northern Ireland business to a headcount of 1,000 by 2020 and has made sure it has room for further expansion with space for up to 1,250. Bedford Square is an £85million project consisting of a 213,000sqft grade A office development which is being delivered by Mcaleer & Rushe.
The scheme will accommodate more than 2,000 people upon completion.
It includes a new office block which will be linked to the refurbished and extended Ewart Building.
The vacant four-storey sandstone warehouse was built for the Bedford Street Weaving Company and completed in 1870.
Jackie Henry, senior partner at Deloitte, said the move is a symbol of the firm’s commitment to the city. She added: “This significant investment reflects our confidence in Belfast and its high-quality talent base.
“We expect to have 1,000 staff in Belfast by 2022, with over 400 of these new roles supported by the Department for the Economy.”
Deloitte will be taking up to 100,000sqft of space within the Bedford Square development.
Stephen Surphlis, of Mcaleer & Rushe, welcomed the move.
He said: “Deloitte’s commitment is a milestone in the delivery of this development which will bring further economic activity to the heart of the city.”
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