NI company takes on 50 graduates - graduate jobs

Northern Ireland firm First Derivatives has taken on 50 graduates in the second phase of its company recruitment drive.

The rapidly expanding firm has added the graduates to its 450-strong workforce and given the local economy a welcome boost. Although the graduate positions have been filled, future recruitment drives could be a great opportunity for university leavers in the area.

The firm, which provides the financial services industry with software and consulting services, took on the graduates as part of its Options Programme. The initiative aims to attract those with considerable work experience and also recent university leavers.

The programme was given £426,883 of funding in 2009 by Invest NI to support skills development, this was also part funded by the European Regional Development Programme (ERDF).

Chief executive Brian Conlon, chief operating officer Adrian Toner and Conor Murphy MLA welcomed the new recruits at the company's Newry headquarters on Monday. One of the new employees, Nick McDaid, said: "With the vast array of opportunities on offer I think we are all looking forward to getting started and building careers within a company that has global horizons."