Tech giant Sage says it is looking to fill 500 posts, with a mixture of new and existing positions at four locations across the UK.
The company this morning confirmed reports that is to move its international head office out of Newcastle’s Great Park.
The firm has been based at Great Park for 15 years but the business will soon leave the site and move to Cobalt Business Park instead, taking on the former Utilitywise building and an adjacent site.
Sage has said it will invest £40m in the North East over the next three year creating jobs, improving its customer experience and strengthening its technology.
The tech firm is also planning to fill 500 jobs in product engineering, data science, support and sales. The jobs are a mixture of new roles and the filling of vacant posts, with jobs being available at Newcastle, Manchester, Reading and London.
Steve Hare, CEO of Sage said: “The UK’s tech sector is fast becoming a centre of global excellence, and Sage is particularly proud to be part of this, and to have such a significant home in the North East.
“Our colleagues are one of our main strengths, and I’m pleased that this investment will create a great experience for them and a fantastic environment for innovation– both are crucial to our vision of becoming a great SaaS company.”
BusinessLive had previously reported that Sage was considering a move after staff were consulted over changes at its Newcastle head office.
Sabby Gill, Sage’s UK & Ireland managing director, said: “Sage’s heart lies in the North East, the region is our spiritual home. Over the past three decades we’ve grown into a global technology leader, supporting over a million UK businesses directly or through our accountant partners, improving their productivity through digitisation.
“Sage continues to grow. Right now, we are recruiting for more than 200 open roles in the North East. It’s an exciting time for Sage, the North East and the UK.”
The company’s plans to recruit 500 people alongside other investments in technology and training will take Sage’s total investment in the UK over £300m by the end of 2020.
The investment will also include £1.6m, which will be spend on providing staff with training, as well as employing 150 apprentices and graduates.
By late 2020 nearly 2,000 employees will work at Sage’s new office at Cobalt Business Park.
Commenting on Sage’s commitment to the North East, Mayor of the North of Tyne Jamie Driscoll said: “This really is excellent news. Sage is a global business and a global leader in technology.
"To invest another £40m in a new world-class technology hub is a great vote of confidence in the North of Tyne. There’s also an apprenticeship programme to give youngsters a route into well paid work.
“Sage is one of our flagship home-grown businesses. They’re a real driver of innovation and skills in the North of Tyne. And as a digital company, Sage will be key in delivering prosperity in the modern, low-carbon economy, based on good quality skilled jobs. We’re working together to boost sustainable growth in our region and to support our whole small and medium enterprise sector.”
