Coronavirus: Global IT giant helping key infrastructure amid Covid-19 and creating jobs

A global IT and business process services provider with a major presence in Scotland is ramping up efforts to serve key government clients during the Covid-19 outbreak – and is aiming to create nearly 200 jobs north of the Border this year, as it boosts its office network.

Lindsay McGranaghan, business unit leader for Scotland, who was appointed to the role in 2019. Picture: Stewart Attwood.

CGI, which is headquartered in Canada’s Montréal, has a global workforce of some 77,500 in hundreds of locations across the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe.

In Scotland, it is present in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Melrose. It has major long-term contracts with Edinburgh City Council, Glasgow City Council and Scottish Borders Council, and also works with the oil and gas sector in Aberdeen, having recently signed up oil major Chrysaor.

Lindsay McGranaghan, business unit leader for Scotland, told The Scotsman that in Scotland the firm has 552 workers – who are known as “members” as they are are given the option to buy a stake in the business (“like the John Lewis of IT,” she said), and more than 90 per cent do.

She explained that it supports national critical infrastructures in the UK and globally, serving local government in Scotland, the Ministry of Justice, Crown Prosecution Service, and a number of space and defence clients.

“First and foremost our priority is to do whatever can to ensure that those critical services – particularly in light of the current [Covid-19] situation – are supported. We are ramping up and have been ramping up over the last month our business continuity plans to make sure that we are best-placed to do that… recognising that there are a lot of variables in the situation.”

The second priority includes ensuring CGI staff that are classed as key workers are given the support they need.

Growing presence

It comes after the IT firm expanded its footprint in Edinburgh with a 9,500-square-foot site on George Street, which opened in October. It represented a £6 million investment by CGI, with space for more than 250 staff.

The business has also locked down new Glasgow premises, consolidating three offices into a site on West George Street that can accommodate 450 people.

Also on the cards is a CGI office opening in the Borders in Tweedbank, which has just been signed off. Scottish Borders Council is building the site, and CGI, which will move in along with other organisations, is committed to creating 150 jobs in the area by 2029.

Lindsay said when her appointment was announced in October that Scotland has become a key part of CGI’s global business – and she added that its work is attracting international attention.

CGI is also currently continuing to recruit – aiming to boost headcount by about 40 by September.

It also one of the main partners of the 2020 AccelerateHER Awards, which McGranaghan said “represent a hugely positive future for not only Scotland but Scottish women in business”.