Listen
Call centre saves and creates jobs
30/01/2009
Scottish and Southern Energy's (SSE) new Cumbernauld customer service centre was officially opened by the First Minister Alex Salmond today, saving around 700 Scottish jobs and with the stated aim of creating a further 300.
The opening comes after Scottish and Southern Energy's decision in June to take over Barclaycard's call centre in Cumbernauld and offer jobs to around 800 staff who were facing redundancy.
The acquisition saved around 700 jobs at the Hunt Hill site, including 600 staff recruited from the existing Barclaycard workforce. Later this year SSE will launch a recruitment drive with the aim of reaching the site's full capacity of 1000 staff by 2010.
The First Minister officially opened the centre today, met staff whose jobs have been saved, and welcomed Scottish and Southern Energy's commitment to Cumbernauld.
The First Minister said:
"Scottish and Southern Energy have stood firm on their commitment to utilise the expertise of the Barclaycard workforce and to retain their skills for their new exciting operation at Hunt Hill.
"SSE's decision to take over the centre and to employ more staff reflects extremely well on the quality of the workforce and provides a very welcome boost for the Scottish economy in tough economic times.
"In response to the economic downturn, this Government has taken decisive action with our six point economic recovery programme - including reshaping our capital investment to bring forward money for affordable housing, accelerating European funding on skills and employment, intensifying our activity for Homecoming, boosting programmes to tackle fuel poverty, and increasing advice and services for businesses and individuals.
"Scotland is well placed to weather the current economic storm. We boast a highly skilled and educated workforce, a world class reputation in areas like financial services, life sciences and energy and a government and public sector that is totally committed to increasing sustainable economic growth
"SSE's new centre perfectly highlights Scotland's flexibility to adapt to the challenges of the current economic climate.
"Today is a great day for employees and their families as they can all now look to the future with confidence that one of Scotland's greatest companies has cemented their commitment to their community."