BT call centre to create 120 jobs

BT is to open a new contact centre in Belfast, creating about 120 jobs, BBC reports.

The investment is being backed by a £568 000 grant from Invest NI's jobs fund and £108 000 from the Department of Employment and Learning.

The centre will be located at the BT Riverside Tower. Staff will provide support to meet short-term need for extra resources within the company.

The jobs being created by the new project will contribute £2.9 million a year in salaries to the economy, Belfast Telegraph states.

Recruiting has already begun for the new posts, which will be located in BT's Riverside Tower and will bring staff levels in Northern Ireland to around 2 600, representing £83 million in wages per year. Posts are expected to be filled within six months.

The team will act as a 'pressure valve' for BT's global network, answering calls and queries to take the pressure off other locations.

InsideIreland.ie quotes Colm O'Neill, CEO of BT Northern Ireland, as saying: “Given the worldwide competition for foreign direct investment, we are delighted that BT Group has selected Belfast as the location for this unique contact centre.

“In addition to the significant BT Northern Ireland operation, BT Group will now have four additional centres in Northern Ireland - including a global research and development centre and two digital care centres - employing more than 1 000 people.

“We believe this is a great vote of confidence in Northern Ireland and the potential growth opportunities that exist here for us, and is a further step in BT's objective to become number one for customer service.”