Other News In Brief

DfC Launch Public Consultation On Gender Pay Gap

A consultation on proposed changes to Section 19 of the Employment Act (Northern Ireland) relating to the requirements for employers to publish information on the pay of male and female employees has been launched by the Department for Communities.

These requirements show whether there are differences in the pay of male and female employees, the Gender Pay Gap, and the consultation will look at employers within the public, private and voluntary sector and consult on requirements for employers with 250 employees and above.

The consultation will provide views and information to:

• Identify Gender Pay Gaps;

• Analyse the drivers behind them;

• Explore the extent to which employers’ own policies and practices may have contributed to the gaps; and

• Encourage employers to take remedial action.

The consultation will run from 25 November 2024 until 14 February 2025. Details can be found at Consultation information: /consultations/consultation-gender-pay-gap-informwation-regulations

AVEVA To Invest £1.4m In Derry R&D Centre

Global industrial software leader AVEVA is set to invest £1.4 million in a new Research and Development (R&D) centre in Derry. The investment will double the company's workforce in the city.

AVEVA, headquartered in Cambridge, first established a presence in Derry in 2015. The company's industrial cloud platform and applications empower businesses to leverage their data and enhance collaboration with stakeholders.

During a visit to AVEVA's premises at the Innovation Centre, Derry, Economy Minister Conor Murphy welcomed the significant investment: "This strategic expansion by AVEVA is a strong testament of its confidence in the North West's skilled workforce. Supporting R&D is a key priority for me as we work to enhance productivity across the north. This investment and the creation of 23 new jobs is a significant boost for the local economy and aligns perfectly with my regional economic action plan, which aims to promote balanced economic growth across the north.

"AVEVA's long-term investment in Derry reinforces the region's potential as a leading technology and innovation hub and I am confident this investment will deliver lasting benefits for both the local economy and the north's position in the global tech landscape."  

The expansion will focus on the development of products to support AVEVA's global growth, including the growth of its flagship Asset Information Management (AIM) solution. This software plays a key role in managing vast data sources for AVEVA's customers, and the new site will also allow the company to scale its cloud-based solutions to meet growing demand.  Iju Raj, Executive Vice President, R&D, AVEVA added: "Innovation and investment in technology are central to AVEVA's strategy. We have multiple R&D locations throughout the globe and have chosen to expand within Northern Ireland due to its strong talent pool, associated links to local universities and successful placement and graduate schemes.

"Our decision to expand in Derry is a testament to the wealth of talent available in the North West and the support, advice and guidance we've received from Invest NI. This R&D centre will be crucial for developing products that keep us at the forefront of technological advancements, enabling us to maintain our competitive edge in the global market."

Brendan McGuigan, Director of Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering at Invest NI welcomed the announcement: "This project is an exciting addition to Northern Ireland's thriving software sector. By combining our local talent pool with Invest NI support, AVEVA has chosen Derry as the strategic location for its second UK R&D hub, securing a bright future for the company's operations here."

EY NI Launch Latest Assured Skills Academy

EY NI has announced its latest fully funded Assured Skills Data & Analytics Academy, to be delivered by South Eastern Regional College (SERC) at their Bangor Campus.

This Academy, which is the 5th from EY in the past 12 months, is the first to be launched outside of Belfast in line with EY’s commitment to create increased regional opportunities throughout Northern Ireland.

The Assured Skills Data & Analytics Academy offers participants practical experience and industry-recognised qualifications, including Microsoft certifications. The six-week intensive training course covers topics such as cloud, data management, data visualisation, and data insights. On successful completion of the Academy, participants will have the opportunity to interview for a role in EY NI’s Data and Analytics team and create an important skills pipeline for the 1,000 new jobs in Northern Ireland pledged by EY NI over the next five years.

Rob Heron, EY Northern Ireland Managing Partner, said: "Northern Ireland has a deep pool of exceptional talent and the Assured Skills Academy Programme helps us access and nurture this talent to drive our business forward. The Academy Programme has been a great success, providing certified and recognised training that equips talented individuals with new skills and offering them the opportunity to interview for our world-class teams here at EY Northern Ireland. We have already welcomed many brilliant individuals through the Academy programme and they are successfully supporting the increasing client demand across our services."

Emma Finney, Head of Business Engagement, SERC commented: "SERC are delighted to be working in partnership with EY and the Department for the Economy to deliver this Data & Analytics Assured Skills Academy.  We are excited to upskill the participants in this fast-growing dynamic area, equipping them with the skills they need for a successful career ahead."