Indian firm set to create 200 call centre jobs in Scotland

SOME 200 jobs are to be created at Indian-owned calls centres in Scotland during the next year, First Minister Alex Salmond has announced.

The jobs boost was revealed by Mr Salmond during a visit to India, following talks with the firm HEROtsc yesterday.

The new staff will be recruited during the next 12 months to work in call centres in Larbert, near Falkirk, and in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire.

The firm already has seven call centres in Scotland, employing more than 1,600 people, and has been awarded 850,000 of taxpayers' cash to "significantly extend" its European trade operation.

The company is part of Hero Group, an Indian manufacturing and engineering giant which has expanded into other areas including training, offshore call centres, IT, financial services and insurance.

Staff taking up the jobs will field calls about services and products for key clients of the Indian firm, such as Sky TV and Vodafone.

The First Minister, who is in India to attend the Commonwealth Games, met Sunil Munjal, the chairman of the Hero Group, and Rohit Chanana, president of Hero Management Services.

Mr Salmond said: "The Scottish Government continues to work hard to attract jobs and investment to Scotland and I am delighted that HEROtsc is expanding operations by creating 200 new jobs.

"This announcement demonstrates the skills and expertise of the workforce in Scotland which will enable HEROtsc to significantly extend its reach across European markets.

"I was hugely impressed by the staff I met when I visited HEROtsc's Scottish headquarters in Larbert earlier this year and I am sure that the business can continue to build on its current success and reputation for high quality service.

"These jobs highlight the continued commitment of the Scottish Government, Scottish Development International and Scottish Enterprise to promote Scotland as a fantastic destination to live, work and do business."

Mr Salmond said that 11 Indian companies had made investments totalling 700 million in Scotland during the past five years, employing more than 3,200 people.

The latest jobs boost was also welcomed by Scottish Enterprise, which made the Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grant of 850,000 to HEROtsc.

Lena Wilson, chief executive of Scottish Enterprise, said: "Together with our colleagues at Scottish Development International, we have been working closely with the management team at HEROtsc to attract and secure this further investment in Scotland.

"HEROtsc is already one of the strongest players in Scotland's dynamic call centre industry, and we are heartened by the company's renewed commitment to Scotland - a sign of our ongoing attractiveness to international investors."

HEROtsc chief executive officer David Turner said the firm was looking forward to "bringing more employment" to Scotland.

He said: "Thanks to this financial assistance, we look forward to bringing more employment to our sites and continuing to show that Scotland leads the way in providing this type of service excellence."