In the midst of what has been a gloomy economic period, the announcement that more than 600 skilled jobs are to be created by multinational business PwC in Belfast is very welcome news.
This hugely positive development is a considerable vote of confidence in the local workforce, our education and training system and the pool of talent that is available here.
It also sends out a message to graduates that there are well-paid careers to be had in the north, hopefully helping to staunch the flow of highly educated young people heading to Britain for work.
The Department for the Economy has worked with PwC, Belfast Metropolitan College and Ulster University to develop a £4.4 million pre-employment training project.
Essentially, there will be Assured Skills Academies delivering training for up to 120 graduates per year over the next five years.
Applications for the first PwC Future Business Skills Academy are open, with 20 places available.
While the Stormont administration often gets a bad press, in has to be said that the development of skills academies - providing people with the specialist training required by large-scale employers - has been a success story.
Since starting as a pilot in 2011, Assured Skills Academies have trained more than 1,500 people, with over 1,200 securing employment across a range of sectors.
The academies are now recognised as a key route into careers in finance, business support, IT and other disciplines, where we have seen significant investment and growth over the past decade.
They also underline the importance of listening to what employers are looking for, addressing the skills gap that exists and ensuring people have the tools and know-how to take full advantage of the opportunities on offer.
There is no doubt that the £4.4 million being provided for training by the Department for the Economy is a lot of money but it has been pointed out that these jobs will generate £15 million in salaries.
That clearly represents a major boost in economic terms but we have to be realistic that we are in a competitive market and other cities will be vying for big name companies that bring jobs and prestige.
We need to be able to offer young people in Northern Ireland secure jobs, decent salaries and long-term career prospects, helping to build a vibrant economy for years to come.
