Call centre jobs boost predicted

North Staffordshire is fast becoming the call centre capital of the Midlands, according to research carried out by a development agency.

InStaffs says nearly 2,000 jobs are likely to be created in the sector over the next 18 months.

Research commissioned by the agency shows that, since February, the number of people employed in north Staffordshire call centres has almost doubled to about 500.

InStaffs says the area should benefit from the creation of at least 1,800 more jobs by early 2005.

The agency believes it is significant that one of the largest employers in north Staffordshire is the mobile telephone firm Singlepoint, which was recently acquired by Vodafone.

InStaffs' research also pointed out the benefits of Stoke-on-Trent College offering call centre training to the long-term unemployed.

However, the research findings come on the same day as members of the Communication Workers Union gathered in Hanley to voice their fears about call centre jobs going overseas, particularly to India.