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Plymouth, UK, Sept 26, 2016 -- The global customer service firm bringing 700 jobs to Plymouth's Ship building says it may create even MORE jobs – if it can find another city base.

Franco-American customer service firm Sitel has doubled its UK operation in just three years an now employs about 5,000 people.

Karl Brough, general manager for Sitel UK & Ireland, said the firm is keen to grow further in the South West.

He said his firm may look to open a base in Torquay, but could expand further in Plymouth.

"If it (new Plymouth base) is successful there's no reason why we wouldn't look at other locations in the South West," he said.

"It may be Torquay, or somewhere like that, or if the city supports it there could even be another in Plymouth, we opened two in Coventry.



The company will create a "contact centre" in the huge glass-fronted The Ship building, at Derriford, the former home of The Herald and Western Morning News, for which it has signed a 10-year lease.

Sitel handles outsourced customer service functions for huge companies and public sector organisations.

This can include call- and email-handling, social media management and back-up office functions for clients.

It is planning to be in situ at The Ship by February 2017 and recruiting staff by April or May 2017.

"We create a lot of opportunities for young people," Mr Brough said. "And the jobs are not only full-time, but part-time and seasonal work too, great for students."

Cllr Ian Bowyer, Tory council leader, said Sitel's arrival will help create "a critical mass" in the rapidly developing north of the city."

"It is a significant investment in Plymouth," he said. "And Sitel is a global operator, so this demonstrates a level of confidence in Plymouth."

And he said it was good to see one of Plymouth's most impressive buildings back in use after having stood empty since The Herald and Western Morning News relocated to the city centre in 2013.

Johnny Mercer, Tory MP for Moor View, said his constituency's unemployment rate, of just 2.7 per cent, was among the nation's lowest.

But he stressed the Sitel jobs would pull in a workforce.

"We are attracting people to this city to live and work," he said.

"We have extraordinary potential and it's being realised."

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Posted by Veronica Silva Cusi, news correspondent
Source: http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk