Accenture growing Newcastle-based workforce

IT services giant Accenture is adding 60 people to its Technology and Consulting workforce in the North East to work with healthcare and public sector clients.

The jobs will cover a variety of levels and are part of the company’s initiatives to increase UK consulting resources outside London.

Mark Larsen, managing director for Accenture Newcastle, confirmed the company’s strong presence in the North East. “New hires will enable us to further expand our local footprint and ensure that our strategic consulting advisory practice is well-positioned to take advantage of the wealth of talent and opportunities in the North East,” he said.

Norma Redfearn, the elected mayor of North Tyneside, believed that the supplier has contributed significantly to the regional economy in recent years.

The Newcastle operation was originally seen as a way of getting a different mix of people and skills to complement other regions. For instance, agile development could start in Newcastle and then be scaled in Mumbai.

The centre was first used to support government customers that did not want data going overseas. The centre is also an alternative for UK customers that might not have the volume to justify a large offshore shared services contract for operations, such as Salesforce, by offering a small local alternative.

The Newcastle operation has also welcomed IT apprenticeships. In 2013, local youngsters joined the company’s scheme at Accenture’s Cobalt Business Park.

The company’s first round of graduates at the Newcastle scheme saw 14 qualify. The second group in September 2016 had 19 graduates, and the most recent group is the largest with a total of 30 people.