Many firms have been relocating call centres to India

The move is bucking the recent trend in the industry to switch call centre work to India, where costs are lower.

RHL - which is owned by entreprenuer and Rangers FC honorary chairman David Murray - said it planned to create 450 new jobs.

The posts will be split between the existing Edmiston Road centre in Ibrox and a new centre in Clydebank.

The new jobs will bring the total workforce at RHL, which started in 1991, to more than 12,000.

Its clients include BSkyB, ScottishPower and the Student Loans Company.

The company's executive chairman, John McLelland, said: "The jobs will range from sales to customer services.

Extension plan

"Workers will be highly skilled, which needs a good education level, they will also be articulate and flexible. We've found that in Glasgow and I am sure we will find it in Clydebank.

"We have grown by 45% and we expect to grow again this coming year and this announcement is part of the extension plan."

The jobs boost is good news for the call centre industry in the face of a recent rush of firms taking advantage of the lower paid but well educated workforce overseas.

Earlier this week hundreds of British jobs were transferred to India by AXA insurance and the Abbey bank.

Where there is an opportunity to create a truly world class business in Scotland, such as RHL, we should do everything in our power to ensure we deliver it David Murray

At the same time Abbey announced that 900 Edinburgh posts would be moved to Glasgow.

Mr McLelland said the company looked at India as a possible base for its call centre.

But he added: "We found with a competitive workforce here and good financial backing from the Murray group and also support from Scottish Enterprise, Dunbartonshire, Scottish Development International and the Scottish Executive, Scotland was as competitive.

"You always recognise competition whether nation or international, we have to keep comparing and benchmarking ourselves, nevertheless we hope to continue expanding in Scotland."

Mr Murray said: "It is clear to me that where there is an opportunity to create a truly world class business in Scotland, such as RHL, we should do everything in our power to ensure we deliver it.