IT consultancy firm Version 1 is to create 26 jobs in Belfast with the establishment of a new Oracle centre in the city.

The Oracle Competency Centre is being supported by Invest Northern Ireland, with £395,000 of funding.

The centre will support Version 1 in providing Oracle products and support services to businesses in Ireland and internationally. Staff will be recruited for roles as junior and senior Oracle consultants.

The firm's managing director Justin Keatinge said Version 1 was committed to investing in and developing its partnerships.

Version 1 employs 300 staff at its Dublin headquarters and regional offices, and increased revenues by 40 per cent in 2011 to €24.5 million. It expects growth this year of 25 per cent.

Its customers include Airtricity, 123.ie, Irish Life, Telefonica O2, and a number of State agencies and Government departments.