Web cars contract jobs boost

Virgin Cars will offer to import a car for you

Scottish telecommunications company Thus has won a £5.5m contract which promises 50 new jobs for Glasgow.

Thus, which was formerly known as Scottish Telecom, will provide call centre services for a new internet car import service from the Virgin group.

Call centre staff will guide users through the service, as well as act as a point of contact for e-mail, fax and traditional mail services.

Virgincars.com says it is hoping to "revolutionise" car buying and ownership in the UK by offering cars at up to 30% below the recommended retail prices.

Plans to 'revolutionise' car buying

The contract is worth £5.5m over three years.

Thus chief executive, Bill Allan, said: "This contract confirms Thus's leading position in the contact centre market.

"We were able to provide Virgin Cars with an innovative solution to their customer service requirements."

Virgin Cars chief executive, Ian Lancaster, said: "We not only offer substantial savings, but also choice, impartial advice, competitive finance and a part exchange service.

"We will even arrange for your car to be serviced at a franchised dealer.

"Basically we are offering complete customer service and support.

Prime location

"And this whole process is with as much or as little human intervention as the customer wants and the contact centre from Thus is integral to that offering."

The announcement follows news on Wednesday that another telecoms company is creating 700 jobs at a call centre near Falkirk.

Telecom Services Centres said it was investing £3.3m in the centre at Larbert which will provide services for blue chip customers.

Scotland is fast becoming the UK's prime location for call centres.

The sector employs more than 28,000 people in 170 centres.