One2One creates 1,000 jobs

More than 40,000 people work in Scots call centres

Mobile phone firm One2One has announced plans to create 1,000 jobs at a call centre in Dundee.

The company is understood to be investing £12m in the customer contact centre at Dundee Technology Park.

It will provide call services for One2One customers and act as a training centre for staff.

The jobs will be based at Dundee's technology park

Managing director, Harris Jones, said: "With a customer base now approaching seven million and with the launch of more sophisticated mobile telecommunications, it is essential that service excellence remains a vital business imperative for our company.

"Our announcement today is a clear demonstration of this commitment."

The jobs will be based at a new 65,000 sq ft building at the technology park on the outskirts of the city.

The first hint of a jobs boost emerged three months ago when Scottish Enterprise Tayside lodged a planning application for the building.

It later emerged that the premises were for One2One and that it was planning to create up to 800 jobs. That figure has since risen to 1,000.

One2One, which is owned by owned by European telecoms giant Deutsche Telekom, already has UK call centres at Greenock, Doxford, Dearne Valley and Merthyr Tydfil.

Work on the new facility is expected to start within weeks and it is scheduled to open in June.

'Excellent news'

Scottish Enterprise Minister Henry McLeish said the development is further confirmation of Scotland's popularity as a location for call centre companies.

He said: "The announcement is excellent news for Dundee and for Scotland.

"The creation of 1,000 jobs further enhances Scotland's reputation as one of Europe's foremost call centre locations."

More than 40,000 people are estimated to be working in the sector in Scotland.