Hundreds of jobs at call centre

A total of 900 new jobs are to be created in Northern Ireland by the call centre company, Gem.

Gem, which currently employs 1,000 people, will fill the new posts by 2012.

It has three sites - Lanyon Place and East Bridge Street in Belfast and at Claremont International Business Centre in Londonderry.

But the additional jobs, aided by a £5.5m contribution from Invest NI, are to be created in other locations.

The new posts will include customer service agents, sales agents, technical support and managerial positions. The company said it would generate £14m annually in salaries.

Gem has a site at Lanyon Place, Belfast

Managing director Philip Cassidy said the additional staff would handle accounts from within the financial services, technology and retail sectors.

He said the company expected to secure new business from the Republic of Ireland.

"Gem has proved to be a home grown success and we intend to continue to build on that," he said.

"We also plan to maximise opportunities within the 'euro zone' which is why we have been extensively targeting the Republic."

Gem currently works with the local universities to target graduates as part of its recruitment programme.

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