600 contact centre jobs created

Up to 600 contact centre jobs are to be created over the next year by a company managing sales for a number of retailers, it was announced today.

Serco said it will open a new city centre office in Cardiff to manage sales and customer services for a range of organisations, including Shop Direct Group, the country's biggest online and home shopping retailer.

The contact centre, which will open in August, will be operated by the Listening Company, which was acquired by Serco earlier this year.

Neville Upton, chief executive of the Listening Company, said: "We're delighted that the growth in our business has provided us with the opportunity to establish ourselves in such a vibrant city centre.

"Not only does this move enable us to enhance our geographical spread and build on our relationships with key clients, it will lead to the creation of a number of exciting job opportunities and we expect to grow the business in the coming months and years."