This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Call centre company announces expansion
13/09/2004
The Lanarkshire firm beCogent has announced expansion
plans that include 600 new jobs as it celebrates its fifth
anniversary.
First Minister Jack McConnell visited the firm's Airdrie
headquarters today where 1,300 people are currently
employed.
beCogent Chairman Dermot Jenkinson said the firm
intended to purchase of a 30,000 sq ft facility in Erskine
that will make it one of the largest call centre employers
in Scotland.
The company received £1.7 million government funding
when it was first set up, and has been offered a further
£1.5 million Regional Selective Assistance to help its
expansion plans.
Mr McConnell said:
"beCogent is an example of exactly the kind of
entrepreneurial dynamism that will help us grow the
Scottish economy.
"Our national economic prosperity will be secured by the
efforts of a wide range of individuals and bodies, people
and companies who are ambitious for themselves, and their
country.
"When I launched our framework for economic development
earlier this month I said that I wanted Scotland to be the
most business friendly region in the UK.
"That is why the Scottish government has invested over
£400 million in regional selective assistance since
devolution, to help companies such as beCogent to become
even more successful."
Scotland's call centre industry employs 56,000 people,
over 2 per cent of the workforce.
beCogent was formed in 1999 following a spin-out from
APAC TeleServices. It provides services such as
telemarketing, helpdesk functions and advice on call-centre
integration to companies such as Telewest, Axa Insurance
and Scottish Power.
Its turnover in 2004 was £17.1 million. For more
information see:
www.becogent.com