The Almac Group has announced that it will invest £80 million into extending its Global Headquarters in Craigavon, Northern Ireland.

The construction of two facilities will create 550 jobs locally, including lab and non-lab based roles. This is part of the company's recruitment drive to create 1,000 jobs in Northern Ireland over three years.

This expansion will significantly grow two of the Group's business units, Almac Pharma Services and Almac Diagnostic Services.

The first of the two projects is a 100,000ft2 state-of-the-art multi-product Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility for Almac Pharma Services. This centre will house a custom designed dispensary area, production suites, process equipment wash facilities and a lineside warehouse for ambient, refrigerated and frozen storage. The facility will be operational from Q3 2024.

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The second project is 40,000 ft2 four-storey diagnostic development and manufacturing centre for Almac Diagnostic Services which will be completed by Q1 2024. This development will enable the company to manufacture and distribute Companion Diagnostic (CDx) kits on a commercial scale to support growing client demand.

Alan Armstrong, Chief Executive of Almac Group said: "Almac is committed to re-investing all our profit back into the business.

"This £80 million expansion and the creation of 550 new, highly skilled jobs in Northern Ireland will ensure that we remain the global leaders in our industry, giving our clients and ultimately patients across the world who benefit from these therapeutics, the best possible offering from Almac."

Invest Northern Ireland has welcomed the development and the ongoing expansion of the Almac Group.

Jeremy Fitch, Executive Director of Business Growth Group, Invest Northern Ireland said: "Almac's commitment to innovation and excellence has positioned it as a cornerstone of our region’s Life & Health Sciences success story and supported it to build a world-renowned reputation for ground-breaking work in the global pharmaceutical industry.

"We are delighted to support this investment which is creating hundreds of employment opportunities in the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area and will bolster Northern Ireland’s reputation as a hub for pharma and diagnostic development. We commend Almac’s dedication and vision and we look forward to witnessing the positive impact this investment will have on Northern Ireland's economy and the advancement of life changing medicines."