Finance firm could create 200 new jobs

 

© Evening Times Originally published: 16/11/2009

UP to 200 new jobs could be created in Glasgow's finance sector with the arrival of a new software company.

First Minister Alex Salmond has today revealed the plan to bring Odyssey Financial Technologies to the city.

The company, one of the world's leading wealth and asset management software solutions and services companies, plans to open an office in Glasgow, recruiting an initial 20 people from January 2010.

It is hoped the number of jobs could rise to 200.

The company says it selected Scotland for its new Centre of Excellence for Software Development on the strength of its financial services community and skilled workforce.

The Scottish Government has supported Odyssey's plans to locate in Glasgow with a Regional Selective Assistance grant of £2.25 million based on the overall project plan of 200 jobs being created.

Speaking ahead of Euro Finance Week in Frankfurt, First Minister Alex Salmond said:"The Scottish Government is working hard to create and safeguard jobs in Scotland and I am delighted that Odyssey will open a Centre of Excellence in Glasgow.

"This will create an initial 20 high value jobs and has the potential to create 200 posts in the medium term.

"Odyssey selected Scotland on the strength of its financial services community and skilled workforce - this reinforces our strong reputation for financial service and demonstrates great confidence in Scotland's economy.

"The global financial services industry is in a period of change, and we are not immune from these pressures. Scotland continues, however, to attract some of the biggest names in international finance."

James Thomson, Odyssey Financial Technologies' senior vice president said: "We are delighted to announce the opening of our development centre of excellence in Glasgow.

"Scotland has a long-established financial services sector community, superb infrastructure, great universities and a wonderful can-do attitude; we are excited by the potential we have found here, This is the ideal location for Odyssey.

Interim chief executive of Scottish Development International, David Smith, said: "This is a clear endorsement of the value of the Scottish proposition for companies operating in the global financial services sector."