Inscape wealth management centre launches in Belfast

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Sir Reg Empey has opened the first Inscape wealth management advice centre at Mays Meadow in Belfast.

The centre will cater for the whole of Northern Ireland, and create 12 new jobs in the local area. The launch of Inscape reinforces Abbey National's position as a significant employer in Northern Ireland, employing 850 people within its operations in the province.

Sir Reg said: "Abbey National has been a significant investor in Northern Ireland in recent years and this latest investment is further proof that the region's economy is progressing and is now at the stage where a major financial institution has decided to establish a wealth management service in Belfast.

"Abbey National, in common with many sectors, has over recent years changed the way it does business in order to keep abreast of technologies and customer demands. In relation to the financial sector this has meant new ways of banking and investing.

"This forward looking philosophy, which seeks to develop new and improved services and products, is a trait which we are keen to foster, not just in investors but in indigenous Northern Ireland businesses."

Abbey National say that in a time when investors must decide how to respond to significant uncertainty in financial markets, the launch of Inscape provides investors with world-class risk and investment management advice necessary in such a volatile financial climate.

Jeff Curry, Regional Client Relationship Manager of the Belfast advice centre, said: "Our service will offer the people of Northern Ireland a ground-breaking combination of first-class personal advice and attention, with access to some of the best fund management skills in the world.

"In uncertain financial markets our "manager of managers" approach combines much-needed flexibility with maximum control over how clients' money is invested, providing a service that is finely tuned to their needs. Previously this sophisticated method of managing investments was only available to institutions and an elite few."

Inscape targets the diverse and growing market of around 100,000 people in Northern Ireland with £50,000 to invest. Inscape offers investment management in the form of tailored portfolios, deposit accounts and a range of complementary services including tax planning and trust management.

Inscape clients will be able to access some of the top fund managers, some of which are being made available to private investors in the UK for the first time.

For further information about Inscape, customers should visitt www.inscape.com or call 0845 605 4400.