Welsh Assembly Minister launches new call centre in Newport for Yellow Pages 118 24 7 - 28 June 2007
A new multi million pound call centre for the award-winning telephone information service Yellow Pages 118 24 7 was today officially launched in Newport, Gwent, by Dr Brian Gibbons, Welsh Assembly Government Minister for the Economy and Transport.Dr Gibbons toured the second floor of £3.5 million Usk House, off George Street, Newport, to see how work had progressed since plans for the call centre were announced earlier this year.
The office development is on a 4.6 acre site that has been specifically earmarked as a strategic location for attracting major new business to the city centre.
During his visit, Dr Gibbons met senior management at Yellow Pages 118 24 7 and spoke to the teams of advisors that handle incoming calls, learning at first hand how the service operates. He also presented awards to two top performing call advisors.
Yell, the FTSE 100 international directories business that provides the Yellow Pages 118 24 7 service, is receiving grant aid from the Welsh Assembly Government and support from the Assembly’s International Business Wales team.
The centre, established as part of the expansion of the UK telephone information service, could see the creation of more than 250 jobs, phased over the next four years.
Following a deluge of interest in and around the Newport area after the centre plan was announced, around 90 call centre workers including team coaches have been recruited to date.
Dr Gibbons said: “Yell will play a key role in Newport’s future development. Not only has the company brought jobs to the city with its new centre for Yellow Pages 118 24 7, but through its status as an Investors in People Champion – one of only 33 organisations with such status - it brings exemplary management and staff practices.
“I am delighted that Yell selected Wales as the best location for creating over 250 new and valuable jobs and, as Minister, I am delighted we were able to provide practical support to build on our already compelling arguments for investing in Wales.
“Contact centres make a huge contribution to the economy of Wales - estimated at £400million per annum - and we are delighted to welcome another international brand to join the growing community of blue chip companies from this sector in Wales.”
The expansion of Yellow Pages 118 24 7 reflects strong growth in volume of calls to the service, particularly in the last year, on the back of an excellent reputation for overall service quality built up in the three years since its launch in the UK.
Jason Smith, Head of Yellow Pages 118 24 7, said: “We have been delighted at the vast amount of people wanting to work at our new call centre and impressed at the wealth of talented and motivated individuals in the Newport area.
“The new people we have recruited are already playing an important part in delivering an effective, high quality information service for us. We’re looking forward to forging strong links with Newport as it goes through its own expansion and development.”
Yellow Pages 118 24 7 currently occupies the top two wings of Usk House, a total of 10,000 sq ft. One wing is fitted out as an open plan call centre with the latest call handling and information search computer technology; the other features breakout areas, and a number of training and meeting rooms.
Usk House is Yellow Pages 118 24 7’s second UK call centre, the other is in Bristol.
Since deregulation of the UK’s 192 directory enquiry service in 2003, Yellow Pages 118 24 7 has established itself as one of the principal 118 providers in terms of service quality and brand.
Yellow Pages 118 24 7 remains the only UK 118 service that offers detailed information on local businesses. For example, householders who lock themselves out of a car at night can obtain details of a nearby locksmith that takes credit cards, offers a 24 hour emergency call out and even specialises in the particular make of car involved.
In September last year, it was named the “Best UK Service” in the 2006 International Directory Assistance Awards – the third year running it has secured the title. This was amongst a clutch of other awards including “Best Training and Development Culture”.
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