16/09/2016

280 New Jobs For NI Under New DWP Contract

Two hundred and eighty new jobs are to be created in Northern Ireland under a contract to deliver services to claimants on behalf of the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

Communities Minister Paul Givan has announced that his department has secured the new contract to service claimants in Britain.

The Department for Communities currently employs approximately 1,400 staff through providing services to claimants in Great Britain on behalf of DWP and these posts will assist in the delivery of Universal Credit, Child Maintenance Group and Personal Independence Payment services to claimants across Great Britain.

The contract is expected to have a value in excess of £16million over the two year period and the average salary is expected to be in excess of £19,000 for the posts which are expected to be mainly administrative grades.

Announcing the new contract, Minister Givan said: "This is great news for Northern Ireland and this additional investment is clear acknowledgement by the Department of Work and Pensions that they value the high quality services currently being provided by our staff.

"These posts will all need to be fully operational by April 2017 and I can confirm that they will be shared between sites in Belfast and Armagh. I am committed to building on our relationship with the Department for Work and Pensions and will be soon visiting London to meet with their Ministers to discuss how we can provide further support."

The Armagh Jobs and Benefits office will be the site for the delivery of the Personal Independence Payments posts as it has the necessary ICT infrastructure and accommodation. The Department will be able to redeploy staff to Armagh from other offices where there are surplus staff following changes introduced by the Welfare Reform Bill.

(MH)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

28 February 2005
Belfast proposals aim to create 4,000 new jobs
The Government has unveiled proposals which will aim to create 4,000 new jobs in Belfast over the next few years.
10 July 2017
Up To 125 Jobs To Be Created In L'Derry
Up to new 125 jobs are to be created in L'Derry. The Department for Communities (DfC) has secured a £7 million contract with the Department for Work and Pensions to deliver Universal Credit services to claimants in Great Britain. The contract will run for an initial two-year period worth just over £3.5m per annum.
24 January 2017
Financial Services Firm To Create 160 New Jobs In Belfast
A financial services firm based in London is to create 160 new jobs in Belfast. FinTru confirmed it is expanding its Belfast centre of excellence and is to recruit 60 experienced roles and 100 graduate roles over the next five years.
12 February 2020
Health Service Needs £661m- Minister Swann
The Department of Health will need over £660 million to keep up with current services and tackle waiting lists over the next year, the Minister has said. Robin Swann marked his first month in office by spelling out the extent of the financial pressures ahead of the local health budget.
28 May 2013
Cookstown Company Secures Brazil Contract
A Cookstown company that specialises in waste reduction and recycling equipment has secured a major contract in Brazil. CDEnviro in County Tyrone secured its first major contract in the country following a trade mission organised by Invest Northern Ireland.