500 new call centre jobs for Birkenhead

WIRRAL call centre firm The Contact Company is planning to take on 500 new staff.

The business, which handles customer enquiries for several retailers and Liverpool Football Club, made the announcement as employment minister Chris Grayling officially opened its new office close to the Queensway Tunnel in Birkenhead.

The Contact Company bought the 30,000 sq ft Grade A office block, known as the Queensgate building, for £3.1m in October.

It was completed in 2008 shortly before its developer Felton Construction went into administration. It was sold by Law of Property Act receiver Parkin S Booth through agents at Knight Frank.

Contact’s chief executive Asif Hamid said: “We have already won significant new contracts because of our investment in these new facilities and I’m delighted to be able to announce that we will be creating 500 new jobs in Birkenhead over the coming months. 

“The Contact Company has come a long way in a relatively short space of time and our new offices and this considerable investment in jobs is a statement of our intent to continue growing by employing excellent people and providing the quality of service to our clients that we’ve become known for in the industry.”
 
The business was established by Asif Hamid and Juliet Rhodes in the summer of 2006 with 15 staff. The company plans to take on 100 new staff immediately and will recruit the remaining 400 positions in phases throughout 2011 and 2012.
 
Mr Grayling said: “It’s great to come to Wirral and celebrate a local business success story. We want to see our entrepreneurs succeed in business and in doing so create opportunities for jobs in areas that badly need them. I am looking forward to marking The Contact Company’s success with them.”
 
The acquisition of the office building was backed with a seven-figure funding package from NatWest. Wirral Council awarded a £250,000 grant to help cover fit-out costs.

Council leader Steve Foulkes said: “The announcement of 500 new jobs in Birkenhead is very welcome news at a time when many people are facing the very real prospect of life without work.”
  
The Contact Company’s clients include: Superdrug, The Jewellery Channel, Carillion, Liverpool FC, The Great Little Trading Company, and Lighter Life.