"Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI) has awarded Sopra Group a £700,000 multi-year contract to include the supply, configuration and deployment of a new Offers and Claims Management System that will help modernise Invest NI's grant management process."

As part of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Invest NI is Northern Ireland's economic development agency, and part of its remit involves managing applications for business development grants in Northern Ireland.  This new system will streamline this grant administration process, reducing the time and costs involved in processing and managing applications.  Sopra Group won the  contract in a competitive tender.

Mel Chittock, Director of Finance, Invest NI commented:
"Sopra has a huge amount of public sector experience and provided relevant reference sites including its very strong links with the Scottish Government.  Excellent feedback was received about the quality of Sopra's bespoke development, testing and security capabilities as well as the quality of the code produced."

Sopra Group has worked with Invest NI on other projects for a number of years which has given it a real insight into how Invest NI's business works on a practical level. 

Matthew Trimming, Sales & Marketing Director, Sopra Group:
"Sopra Group has worked closely with Invest NI for several years.  This has helped us gain a real understanding of their business and ensured we are able to supply Invest NI with solutions that meet their needs.  Sopra Group look forward to supporting the continued development of the Northern Ireland economy through the delivery of this important contract, and to deepening our partnership with Invest NI."

Sopra Group will begin developing the new application from the end of August with it due to 'go live' in March 2009.  The contract also includes three years of 'post-go-live' application support.