Contact centre brings jobs boost

Hundreds of jobs are to be created, and dozens of existing ones safeguarded with the opening of a call centre in West Cumbria.

The HM Customs and Revenue (HMRC) contact centre at West Cumbria House in Lillyhall, between Whitehaven and Workington, will bring 350 new jobs.

It will also provide long term certainty for 50 HMRC staff based in nearby Blencathra House in Whitehaven.

Regeneration chiefs said the news was an "excellent employment opportunity".

Linda Maslen, head of HMRC contact centres, said: "I am really looking forward to working closely with my new team to put Lillyhall contact centre at the forefront of providing an excellent service to our customers.

"The opening of this new contact centre brings great opportunities for colleagues from Blencathra House, and for the local community."

Tim Hirst, director of the West Cumbria Development Agency said: "This is excellent employment opportunity news and demonstrates the commitment by many parties to continue to improve the economic prospects for West Cumbria into the future."