A leading customer service provider has announced the opening of a new Stranraer base as part of a £1m investment which will see 100 jobs created in the local area over the next three months.
Ascensos, which is headquartered in Motherwell and currently employs 3,000 colleagues across its network of offices in the Isle of Wight, Glasgow, Bucharest and Istanbul, is launching a Stranraer hub as part of Ascensos Local; a new community-focused arm of the business.
Stranraer is the first of what is expected to be six local hubs, which will bring high quality digital jobs to rural communities, with staff working mainly from home.
The customer services outsourcing firm works with some of the world’s best-known brands including B&Q, KFC and Peloton.
John Devlin, CEO and co-founder of Ascensos, said: “This new hub will bring 100 permanent jobs to Stranraer and the surrounding area, and we predict the local economic impact of these new jobs will be incredibly positive. We know a lack of job prospects for young people in the area is a real concern, and we are setting out to change that.
“The new jobs we are creating will offer a variety of opportunities, and not just for young people. This type of role is ideal for people returning to the job market after a break, and for those looking to switch career.
“Galloway is a place I know well, and Stranraer was top of the list of Scottish towns we wanted to invest in. It offers an amazing quality of life that dovetails perfectly with a working from home career. As a company we also understand the importance of community. The community spirit in Stranraer is inspiring and it’s something we very much want to be part of.
“The massive shift we’ve seen towards working from home over the last 18 months opens up opportunities for creating jobs in different ways and in many different locations. We see particular potential in small towns and rural communities. So, we are seizing that opportunity with the launch of Ascensos Local, ensuring that the growth of our company creates good quality digital jobs and economic value in rural communities across the UK.”
The job creation announcement has been welcomed by local community groups. Romano Petrucci, Chair of Stranraer Development Trust, said: “This is the most fantastic boost to Stranraer and we look forward to supporting John and his team as they go about creating jobs for countless people and families in the area. We have always said that Stranraer is a place of untapped potential, and it’s wonderful to see a fast-growing company like Ascensos investing in Stranraer and its people.
“Stranraer, like so many places, has taken a real knock over this past 18 months. The creation of so many new jobs by a company with a clear track record of success, and a culture that is committed to supporting the local community, is the kind of news that many towns could only dream about. There are exciting times ahead and we should all welcome John and his team to the area.”
Ascensos Local’s Stranraer hub will be based at South Strand Street and will be operational from September. A recruitment base will be located in Dumfries and Galloway College’s Stranraer campus from this week with recruitment activity commencing immediately. Ascensos is working with South of Scotland Enterprise on this exciting project.
Over the next 12 months, Ascensos will be opening a total of six local hubs in towns across the UK under this new operating model, in a move which will create a total of 500 new jobs.
Devlin continued: “We’re keen to become part of Stranraer’s long-term success and will be working with local businesses and community groups, such as the Stranraer Development Trust, along the way to ensure we truly embed ourselves into the heart of the town.”
Those looking to find out more about the positions available can visit Ascensos’ Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ascensoscontactcentres or www.ascensos.com. Alternatively, please contact Ascensos directly on [email protected] or 0333 000 2131.
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