BT to create more jobs at Accrington call centre

FORMER England rugby union captain Lawrence Dallaglio is opening  a new £3m BT call centre in Lancashire today.

The new facility at the Globe Centre in Accrington, jointly funded by BT and Lancashire County Council, will create 325 jobs – 25 more than originally planned.

At the launch event at lunch-time Mr Dallaglio will also announce that the centre is to become the UK’s customer service hub for the company’s new channel, BT Sport, which will be available to broadband users across the UK later this year.

Around 250 jobs have been filled at the new centre so far. BT employs more than 8,200 people across the North West, of whom more than 2,000 are based in Lancashire, making BT one of the largest local employers.

The Accrington centre, which currently opens Monday to Friday, will extend its operating hours to include the weekend from the end of April, to coincide with the additional work being undertaken there.

Gavin Patterson, chief executive of BT Retail, said: “We have been extremely impressed by the calibre of the people we have recruited so far in Lancashire, and look forward to employing further high quality recruits in the coming months so we’ll have the centre at full strength by the end of the year.

Geoff Driver, leader of Lancashire County Council, added: “The jobs this centre brings offer excellent opportunities for local people and an economic boost for the area as a whole.”

Lawrence Dallaglio said: “There’s a real buzz around here as people prepare to be part of something new and exciting. Everyone is clearly highly motivated, which is key to the success of a team, whether that’s in a sporting arena or in the field of customer service.”

The 34,000sq ft, five-storey contact centre has undergone a £3.2 million refurbishment, jointly funded by BT and Lancashire County Council, from which BT leases the former council building.