Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
305 jobs head North West in Fintru boost
ONE of Northern Ireland’s top commercial law firms is celebrating 45 years in the business community – by expanding into new offices.
Elliott Duffy Garrett has opened the premises at 40 Linenhall Street in the heart of Belfast’s Linen Quarter.
The offices were opened at an event attended by figures from across the public, private and voluntary sectors.
FINANCIAL services firm Fintru is to create 605 jobs across Northern Ireland – while creating a new base in Derry. The North West office will get 305 of the jobs with the remainder adding to the existing Belfast hub.
Fintru provides regulatory resourcing services, including legal, risk, compliance, KYC, operations and consultancy, to Investment Banks and other financial institutions.
It established its Belfast centre of excellence in 2014, with initial plans to recruit 80 staff and has grown to now employing more than 240 staff.
Fintru founder Darragh Mccarthy said: “Our current operation in Belfast has been hugely successful which has been driven by the exceptional talent we have been able to recruit in Northern Ireland. Fintru has won two Fast Growth
Business of the Year awards in 2018 and we are delighted to continue our expansion in other areas of Northern Ireland.
“After reviewing a number of locations, I had no hesitation about expanding our presence into the North West due to the highly attractive location and the availability of talent that the region offers.
“While managed as a profit-driven organisation, I see Fintru as having a social purpose to create high-quality professional employment in Northern Ireland.” Invest NI has offered £3.2million to support the recruitment drive alongside the Department for the Economy, which has offered £2.4million through its Assured Skills Programme.
Invest NI’S Alastair Hamilton said: “We are delighted to have played such a significant role in the company’s rapid growth to date. The new jobs to be recruited over the next five years will generate over £15million in additional annual salaries for the local economy.”
And Darragh, a finalist in this year’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, added: “Our partnership over the last few years with Invest NI has been invaluable to our growth.
“We are also working with the Department for the Economy through its Assured Skills Programme, Belfast Metropolitan College and the North West Regional College to establish a Graduate Academy which will result in a considerable investment in training for our new employees.” NORTHERN Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Ulster Bank are inviting businesses to join a near-market trade visit to Glasgow. Up to 20 places are available for the trip designed to help local firms exploit the opportunities in bigger cities in Britain.
Taking place from August 30-31, the Glasgow itinerary includes tailored briefings and introductions from organisations such as Wheatley Group.
Commenting on the visit, Sandra Scannell, Head of Business Services at Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “Glasgow is a great introduction for businesses who want to export, and is a market where NI Chamber has an extensive and established network.”
DONAGHY Shoes has invested £100,000 and created four jobs to support the continued growth of its online platform and export business. The family-owned business in Banbridge, Co Down, operates from a 25,000 sq ft store on the main street, employing 75 staff and exporting internationally to more than 50 countries.