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bcwsolutions open premises in Rutherglen

10/08/2004

A £5 million contact centre which aims to create around 300 jobs and bring £50 million into the Scottish economy over the next 10 years was opened today in Rutherglen.

The new premises of bcwsolutions, a credit management and outsourcing company, have been created with the help of a £1.6 million Regional Selective Assistance grant from the Executive.

Minister for Finance and Public Service, Andy Kerr said:

"This announcement is great news and will provide a genuine boost to the Scottish economy - and the Rutherglen area in particular. I am delighted the Executive was able to play its part in this project - our £1.6 million of RSA was instrumental in bcw setting up this new facility.

"The company recognised the benefits to be gained from having a base in Rutherglen in terms of suitable premises, good transport links and access to the local workforce. There are around 80 staff in place at present, with plans to increase this to more than 300.

"The continued commitment of bcw to Scotland is most welcome. I am absolutely delighted that the Executive has been able to underline its priority of growing the economy by supporting this project. This venture highlights one of the types of projects we can assist and I hope that other Scottish businesses will be encouraged to consider what the RSA scheme could do to support their future development.

"I want to congratulate bcw and everyone involved in what is a truly exciting development and wish them every success for the future."

bcwgroup provides comprehensive credit management and customer contact

solutions, from volume consumer and commercial collections, through web-based account management and data services, consultancy, outsourced receivables and customer account management, and business intelligence services. It covers over 40 countries through full multilingual communications, cross-border legal representation and in-country agency management capabilities.

In March 2004, bcwsolutions, a subsidiary of the bcwgroup, accepted an

RSA offer of £1.6 million (including £300,000 of New Deal Premium) to assist with the project which involves planned capital expenditure of £705,000 and the planned creation of over 300 jobs (including 60 New Deal posts). The project will enable the bcwgroup to diversify its operation by establishing a new contact centre in the award-winning £25 million Parish Church conversion in Rutherglen.

RSA is the main national scheme of financial assistance to industry. It

provides discretionary grants for investment projects that will create or safeguard jobs in the Assisted Areas - areas designated for regional aid under European Community law. The scheme is administered by the RSA Scotland Unit of the Scottish Executive. To find out more about RSA you can visit the website at www.rsascotland.gov.uk. The New Deal Premium was introduced following the RSA review in 2001/02.

It enables firms that meet the RSA scheme criteria to claim a premium of up to £5,000 for each job filled by a New Deal trainee or recent graduate. To receive the full amount they employ and retain then for at least 2 years.

This premium is subject to the normal RSA grant limits. Payments of RSA is made in instalments, typically over several years,

provided that job and project expenditure targets are met. Not all projects will proceed or be completed. The amounts quoted above, therefore, represent the maximum grant potentially payable if the project is satisfactorily completed. All job numbers given are based on the firms' forecast figures at the time a grant is offered, and are subject to change depending on future economic conditions and other factors affecting the business concerned.

Page updated: Tuesday, August 10, 2004