Computing giant IBM looks set to hire across the Channel with jobs coming in a new technology centre in Lille in North-West France and Groningen, the Netherland’s Northernmost city.

IBM has announced that 350 technical IT roles will be created in Groningen over the coming three years. The technology centre will serve clients across the Netherlands with Dutch-language support.

And 700 new positions will be created in a new technology centre in Lille, according to a report in French newspaper Le Figaro. A full announcement is expected this afternoon.

The paper reports that this comes after the firm announced in April that it would cut 1,200 to 1,400 jobs in France by the end of next year, equivalent to over 15% of its workforce.

The centre in Groningen is being developed through a collaboration with the city and province of Groningen and three tertiary education establishments in the city: the Hanze University of Applied Sciences, the University of Groningen and the University Medical Center Groningen.

IBM says the Groningen centre will employ technology graduates and experience professionals, and offer internships and graduate assignments. The recruitment process kicks off with an event this Wednesday (26 June) at Hanze University.

Dutch minister of economic affairs Henk Kamp says the partnership is “a perfect example of how collaboration between the private sector, knowledge institutes and the government creates new jobs and generates income”.