Around 500 jobs are on the way as a Co Armagh firm plans to invest tens of millions of pounds in a major expansion programme.

Almac Laboratories is carrying out the expansion at its Portadown headquarters, taking its total employment at the plant above the 2,000 mark, and past 3,000 worldwide.

It is currently building a $120m plant in Pennsylvania which will be completed in July next year. The company services many of the world’s leading pharmaceutical giants in the field of research and development, with a high proportion of the new jobs going to graduates. The remainder of the jobs will be administrative and warehouse back-up posts.

Company chairman Sir Allen McClay said: “It’s an exciting development and the latest step since Almac was set up from scratch in 2001. We have attracted graduates from all over the world working with us, including many from countries like Russia, India, China and France. We are working with local universities to attract the right sort of people to our company.”

John Irvine, director of commercial development, said “The first phase in this project, which is part of our five-year plan, is the three-storey office block followed by the new laboratory suite. It received planning permission this week and we are keen to press ahead.”