Local IT consultancy plans to add 200 jobs

An Indianapolis-based information technology consultancy plans to lease additional office space on the city’s north-east side to make way for a planned addition of 200 workers by 2015.

City and economic development officials announced Knowledge Services’ plans Thursday morning in a press conference at the company’s headquarters, 5875 Castle Creek Parkway.

Knowledge Services was founded in 1994 as an information technology training company and has grown into a $57 million operation with 600 employees, including 150 in Indianapolis.

While the company continues to provide IT consulting, Knowledge Services CEO Julie Bielawski said major growth has taken place in the last four to five years as the company expanded into managing the process of temporary hiring for companies.

Knowledge Services was featured as one of IBJ’s fastest-growing companies last month. Annual revenue at the firm grew from $18.5 million in 2008 to $57.4 million in 2010.

Bielawski said the tough economy has created demand for contingent labor that has helped drive her company’s growth in that area.

“We’re in a really tough economy at the moment, and clients are looking for ways to continue to get their initiatives completed and get their rollouts done in a timely fashion within their budget,” Bielawski said.

The company’s new employees–including software developers and staffers in accounting, business development and customer service–will mostly help serve that growing area, Bielawski said. The company already has begun hiring some of the 200 workers. It said it will spend about $1.9 million to lease and prepare the new office space.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Knowledge Services $2.7 million in tax credits and $25,000 in training grants. The company also is seeking a 10-year tax abatement.