The company, Call Britannia, aims to open 10 new call centres across the UK over the next seven years, giving 10,000 staff a minimum of six months' employment, and equipping them with skills, training, support and work experience. The company will then help its ‘graduates' to find work.
All its offices will be based in economically-disadvantaged areas. Call Britannia not only intends to provide sustainable employment, it aims to provide a high-quality service to customers. Six new recruits, all previously long-term unemployed, have started on the Call Britannia training scheme, with a further 18 joining before the end of the year.
Organisations in both the private and public sector will be encouraged to sub-contract work from their contact centres to the business. These organisations will also have the opportunity to recruit Call Britannia graduates at no cost.
The venture is backed by more than £1 million of new investment. The Bridges Ventures' ‘Social Entrepreneurs Fund' has invested £500,000 and Big Issue Invest's Social Enterprise Investment Fund £350,000. The Government's Future Jobs Fund has awarded a further £292,500, and another £150,000 will come from the management team headed by social entrepreneur and Call Britannia's founder Karen Darby.
Jim Knight, minister for employment and welfare reform said: "The new jobs will be based in unemployment hotspots across the UK and will enable young people and the long-term unemployed to get experience that will really boost their long-term employment prospects. Details on how to apply are available through any local Jobcentre Plus."
