Since establishing a presence in Belfast in 2022, CGI has become part of Northern Ireland’s technology landscape, combining local capability, global expertise and collaborative innovation to support public sector transformation.
This year also marks 50 years since CGI was founded in Canada in 1976, growing from a small consultancy, into one of the world’s largest independent IT and business consulting services firms. That global heritage is now part of CGI’s growing story in Northern Ireland, where its Belfast team is helping deliver digital transformation across the public sector.
To celebrate the country where CGI's story began, this Canada Day, we spoke to Michelle Sherrard, Director Consulting Services, about CGI's Belfast growth, the opportunities it is creating and what comes next.
What was the initial vision for CGI’s presence in Belfast, and how has that evolved?
From the outset, our ambitions for Belfast were structured around three pillars: Deliver From, Deliver To and Develop With.
Deliver From focused on establishing a Belfast Centre of Excellence to service our wider customer base; Deliver To on building client relationships in Northern Ireland; and Develop With on collaboration with academia and SMEs around innovation.
We have made good progress in all three areas, growing to more than 50 partners and delivering services for major public sector organisations.
We are also involved in a number of emerging AI innovation projects. The focus is now on building further momentum across all three strands.
How has the Belfast team grown in recent years?
We have grown to a team of more than 50 partners, with increasing depth of expertise and a strong capability in delivering complex public sector programmes, particularly in the justice sector. Our initial recruitment was focused on attracting experienced partners who could help us to establish a strong foundation and deliver value from day one.
This growth enabled our move to larger offices at The Kelvin in 2025, reflecting our long-term commitment to Northern Ireland. In 2024, we also launched our graduate and apprenticeship programmes, demonstrating our investment in developing a sustainable local talent pipeline that combines local knowledge with CGI’s global expertise.
What makes Belfast an attractive location for CGI?
Belfast gives us the right environment to grow: proximity to clients and key sectors, combined with the scale, ambition and connectivity needed to deliver complex digital transformation programmes.
It also gives us a strong base to build long-term partnerships, develop local talent and connect Northern Ireland into CGI’s wider UK and global network.
What type of projects are being delivered from Belfast?
While we have developed a particular strength in justice-related work, our portfolio spans public sector projects including geospatial and land management, education, health and agriculture.
We are also helping advance CGI’s work in emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, with global colleagues sharing insight and supporting local innovation initiatives.
Looking ahead, what are CGI’s ambitions for Belfast?
Rather than focusing purely on scale, our ambition is to deepen our impact.
We want to keep bringing global expertise into Northern Ireland in areas such as AI, cyber security and digital transformation. CGI’s strategic global partnership with OpenAI is designed to help organisations deploy advanced AI capabilities, particularly OpenAI’s Codex and agentic AI tools, securely and at enterprise scale. For us, the opportunity is to connect that global capability with real public service challenges here, applying emerging technology responsibly and with clear practical value.
In AI, this has included engagement through the Chief Executives’ Forum, where Dr Diane Gutiw, Vice-President and Global AI Research Lead at CGI, shared lessons from CGI’s work with Hywel Dda University Health Board in Wales on responsible, practical AI in public services. CGI’s sponsorship of the launch of the All-Party Group on Artificial Intelligence at the Northern Ireland Assembly also reflected this commitment.
CGI has also brought its Cyber Escape Experience to Northern Ireland, giving local organisations a practical, interactive way to build cyber awareness and explore how to stay ahead of evolving threats.
What opportunities does this create for people considering a career with CGI?
For those considering joining CGI in Northern Ireland, the opportunity lies in the range, relevance and impact of the work. Reflecting CGI’s distinctive ownership culture, employees are referred to as “CGI Partners”, with most holding shares in the company, reinforcing a commitment to client success, continuous improvement and long-term delivery.
We are recruiting for roles in technology and business consulting, software development, data, cyber security, AI, service delivery and project management, alongside graduate and apprenticeship routes.
People joining CGI here can build broad careers, working with clients across many sectors on transformational projects that make a tangible difference to public services and communities in Northern Ireland.
Our metro model is central to that. Our people live and work close to the clients they support, typically within around one hour, giving clients trusted local teams who understand their context and are personally invested in project success, while drawing on CGI’s global strength.
Through our social value programme, our people also support charities and community organisations through volunteering, pro bono support and local sponsorship activity, including sports kits and other community initiatives.
A long-term commitment to Northern Ireland
As we celebrate our 50th milestone, we look to the future and building what’s next. Our message is clear: CGI is committed to Northern Ireland for the long term. We have significantly invested in establishing and growing our Belfast operation, creating high-value jobs and bringing a global technology player into the local market.
That investment means clients here can benefit from innovation, expertise and experience from around the world, delivered by people who live in the communities they serve and are committed to helping Northern Ireland realise the benefits of digital transformation.
