Jobs saved at call centre company

The new deal with Sky will save more than 300 jobs at the call centre

Hundreds of under-threat call centre workers at Telecom Services Centre (TSC) near Falkirk have been told their jobs are safe.

The news comes two months after major client T-Mobile announced it was moving work to the Philippines, putting 300 jobs at risk.

TSC said a new deal to provide support to broadcaster Sky had secured the jobs at its Larbert call centre.

Staff at the site had been due to lose their jobs at the end of next month.

The firm's chief executive David Turner said workers had gone through weeks of "stress and anxiety" following the announcement by T-Mobile.

He added: "This contract with Sky not only takes their employment worries away, it brings a new, dynamic customer onto the TSC client list."

In a letter to employees, Mr Turner also praised the efforts of staff.

Redundancy payments

He added: "The manner in which you have continued to work so efficiently and diligently over the past few difficult weeks has been a credit to every one of you."

The company had faced criticism in recent weeks after it emerged that staff whose jobs were at risk might not receive redundancy payments.

Under employment legislation known as Tupe 2006, staff could have been offered posts in the Philippines which would have invalidated their right to seek redundancy.

Local MSP Michael Matheson, who took part in talks with TSC following the T-Mobile announcement, said: "This is great news for the staff and the TSC site.

"The Sky contract will provide the employees with job security whilst also ensuring the long-term future of TSC in the area."

TSC, which operates seven sites in Scotland and one at Dearne Valley in South Yorkshire, provides contact centre staff across the business sector.