CANADA Life has signed a contract worth £500,000 with Hewlett Packard to carry out a major upgrade on its computer system. Canada Life says it will enable them to reduce their cost base and to improve their communications with the market. The company employs 272 people in its head office and operates through the independent broker market.

Hewlett Packard, which is one of the biggest computer companies operating in Ireland, is currently building a manufacturing plant in Leixlip. It will employ more than 1,100 people over four years in a £100 million development which is backed by the IDA.