The new staff are being hired to handle additional business from the British and Irish markets, and will be recruited in areas such as customer service and IT, according to Quinn Direct general manager Colin Morgan.

The company, which employs 1,450 people, has yet to decide where to base the new staff and is likely to talk to state agencies in Northern Ireland, Britain and the Republic to ascertain what supports might be available for the expansion. Morgan said 300 people would be recruited over the next 12 months, and that a similar number will be hired next year.

Quinn Direct grew its business substantially last year as its premium income increased by 31% to 621m. Customer numbers have doubled over the past three years to 350,000, according to figures released last week.

The expansion was due in part to Quinn's growing British business, which offers motor and commercial insurance from its base in Manchester. Quinn Direct entered Britain in late 2004; it initially focused on the greater Manchester area but now writes policies throughout England, Scotland and Wales.

Morgan said the British business could be bigger than the Irish operation within five years and additional staff were needed to service both markets.

At present Quinn Direct has 650 staff in Co Cavan, 400 in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, 300 in Dublin and 100 in Britain. Morgan said the extra British business could easily be serviced by adding staff to any of the company's existing locations.

Quinn Direct made pre-tax profits of 232m last year on the back of a huge gain in investment income and a surge in new premiums. Operating profits increased to 119m but Morgan said this would have been higher but for the investment in the British operation and the fact that the company had cut its margins in order to win additional business.