Whitespace Global, a Belfast-headquartered artificial intelligence company, has announced plans to create 40 new jobs over the next three years in a move that will double its Northern Ireland workforce. The expansion, supported by £240,000 from Invest Northern Ireland, will see the company recruit for high-salary roles in software engineering, AI and machine learning, and cloud infrastructure as it scales its operations in the sovereign AI sector.
The announcement comes as the company builds on a recent £10 million Series A funding round and growing demand for its flagship product, Collective—an AI operating system designed for sensitive government and defence environments. Several details were not disclosed in the announcement and warrant clarification.
What is being announced
Whitespace Global plans to recruit 40 new staff across six specialist areas:
- Software engineering
- AI/ML engineering
- Data engineering
- Cloud engineering
- Product management
- Design and delivery consulting
The company says these roles will carry an average salary of £78,500. The £78,500 average salary is notably high for Northern Ireland, though specialist AI roles in defence and security sectors typically command significant premiums above general tech sector averages. Recruitment will be staggered over three years, with positions advertised through the company’s careers page.
Invest NI, the region’s economic development agency, has offered £240,000 in support towards the job creation. The agency says it “worked closely with the company to secure this investment for Northern Ireland over other locations such as London, Dublin and Southeast England.”
Company background and recent growth
Whitespace Global describes itself as a “GB AI company” building technology for UK Defence and National Security. Its core product, Collective, enables organisations to develop, deploy and govern AI across cloud, edge and air-gapped environments—systems physically isolated from unsecured networks.
The company was founded in Belfast, according to investment firm Next Wave Partners, which participated in Whitespace’s Series A round. Companies House records show Whitespace Global Limited was incorporated on 9 December 2016. The company’s registered office moved within Belfast in April 2026, from the fourth floor to the third floor of The Linenhall on Linenhall Street.
In November 2025, Whitespace completed a £10 million growth capital financing led by Next Wave Partners, with co-investors White Cloud and Beach Equity. The company said this funding would accelerate product development, strengthen engineering capacity at its Belfast headquarters, and expand customer success programmes.
Whitespace is among a select group of four SMEs awarded an enterprise agreement by the Ministry of Defence—a framework designed to streamline procurement with trusted UK technology companies. It has also partnered with Defence Holdings PLC to develop “defence-focused software applications and AI agents,” and collaborates with Oracle as part of the Oracle Defense Ecosystem.
What the company and Invest NI said
Ruth Hengari, Chief Financial Officer at Whitespace Global, emphasised the company’s Belfast roots:
“Whitespace was founded in Belfast, and Northern Ireland is still where our ambition to scale lies. Every part of what we build, from the technology itself to the people who lead it, has its roots here. This investment marks the next stage of that story, as we expand internationally and meet growing demand across Defence and National Security.
“At Whitespace, we build sovereign AI infrastructure for the UK’s most sensitive environments, from classified and air-gapped systems through to heavily regulated markets, because governments and institutions need to move faster and do more with less. Following our Series A, growing customer demand for Collective, and the backing of Invest NI, we’re ready for what comes next.
“Belfast gives us talent and ambition to match our own, and these 40 roles are a chance to prove that on a global stage. Northern Ireland continues to punch above its weight in technology and Invest NI’s support lets us build high-value careers here while keeping our technology, our intellectual property and our leadership rooted in this city, as we continue to grow globally.”
Anne Beggs, Chief Commercial Officer at Invest Northern Ireland, said:
“Whitespace Global’s decision to expand in Belfast is a strong endorsement of Northern Ireland’s growing reputation as a centre for advanced technology innovation. Our support secured the expansion in Northern Ireland, helping the company to create these 40 high-quality jobs that will provide valuable opportunities for people across Northern Ireland thanks to its hybrid working model.
“Through this investment, Whitespace Global is strengthening its product development capabilities and anchoring high-value intellectual property and engineering leadership in Northern Ireland. The company’s growth in the strategically important area of sovereign AI will enhance our region’s position in defence technology and other highly regulated global markets.”
Questions and uncertainties
Several aspects of the announcement warrant closer examination:
The nature of Invest NI’s £240,000 support — The press release does not specify whether this is a grant, loan, repayable assistance, or another mechanism. This matters for understanding the true cost to the public purse and whether the funding carries performance conditions or clawback provisions.
The “doubling” claim — Whitespace says the 40 jobs will “double” its Northern Ireland workforce, implying a current headcount of approximately 40. However, no current employment figure is provided, making this claim difficult to verify independently.
The “GB AI company” description — This is potentially confusing. If Whitespace was founded in Belfast and maintains its headquarters there, describing it as a “GB” (Great Britain) company is geographically inaccurate—Northern Ireland is not part of Great Britain. The company may intend to emphasise its UK-wide operations or its focus on the British market, but the terminology is imprecise.
Salary benchmarking — The £78,500 average salary is notably high for Northern Ireland. According to the 2026 MCS Group Salary Survey for Northern Ireland, the technology sector has seen “renewed momentum” but also “growing complexity” in hiring. While specialist AI and machine learning roles command premiums, the quoted average exceeds typical ranges for mid-level positions in the region. The company has not explained how this figure is calculated—whether it includes senior roles, equity compensation, or other factors.
Competing locations — Invest NI states it secured the investment “over other locations such as London, Dublin and Southeast England,” but provides no evidence that these alternatives were seriously evaluated or what factors tipped the decision toward Belfast.
Broader context: Sovereign AI and public investment
Whitespace’s expansion comes amid intensifying UK government focus on “sovereign AI”—domestically developed and controlled artificial intelligence capabilities. In April 2026, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology launched the £500 million Sovereign AI Fund to back British AI startups, offering equity investment, supercomputing access, and fast-tracked visas for talent.
While Whitespace is not among the fund’s publicly announced beneficiaries, its work aligns with this national priority. The company emphasises that its technology is “developed entirely in the UK” and already deployed in “critical live environments.”
This raises relevant questions about oversight and accountability. Whitespace’s technology is used in Defence and National Security contexts where transparency is necessarily limited. The company states it helps organisations “operationalise sovereign AI that enables smarter decisions, faster adaptation and… decision superiority.” For a company receiving public support, the balance between commercial confidentiality and democratic accountability merits attention.
What to watch
As Whitespace implements its expansion, several developments will indicate whether this investment delivers promised benefits:
- Actual job creation versus announced roles—will all 40 positions materialise?
- Salary outcomes—will average pay match the £78,500 projection?
- Retention and progression—will these become sustainable careers or high-turnover stepping stones?
- Intellectual property—will R&D activity genuinely remain anchored in Belfast?
- Public return—what reporting will Invest NI provide on outcomes relative to the £240,000 support?
Readers interested in applying for positions can monitor Whitespace’s careers page, where opportunities will be advertised over the coming three years.