The Dublin-based organisation, Noonan, has purchased outsourcing giant Resource and consequently has helped to protect the jobs of more than 6,000 of Resource's employees, 2400 of those based in Northern Ireland.

According to the report in Belfast Telegraph, the purchase comes after receivers and administrators were appointed to some companies in the Resource group on Thursday. Resource Group delivers facility services across the private and public sectors in Northern Ireland, Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

Noonan was established in 1977, and with more than 7,500 employees is Ireland’s largest provider of Strategically Outsourced Services.

Capita acquired SouthWestern