A MAJOR Hartlepool company has exceeded its job creation target more than a year ahead of schedule.

As part of a seven-year partnership with Hartlepool Borough Council to provide the authority’s IT services, leading information technology provider Northgate Public Services (NPS) gave a commitment in February 2014 that it would create 235 jobs in the town within three years.

The agreement, which is also on track to save the council £7.6million over the seven year contract period, involved NPS establishing its new Regional Business Centre within the Church Street Innovation & Skills Quarter in Hartlepool – one of the eight areas identified in the Hartlepool Vision to spark regeneration and create jobs.

Latest job figures produced by NPS show that the company already employs 241 staff through its Northgate House base in Hartlepool – surpassing the 235 target well ahead of schedule.

Among other services it provides, the business hub now delivers services to a number of UK local authorities, provides a national 24 hour IT call centre and works on national schemes for the Department for Transport.

Part of the agreement with the Council resulted in the setting up of the Northgate Academy, in conjunction with Hartlepool College of Further Education to create apprenticeship opportunities for young people.

A target was set to create 35 apprenticeships over the seven-year partnership and so far 29 have been established.

Councillor Christopher Akers-Belcher, the Leader of Hartlepool Council, commented: “It’s very encouraging to see NPS surpassing their employment and apprenticeship targets and the spin-off for the local economy is significant."