BSkyB is to extend its administrative department

BSkyB's Sky Subscribers Services Limited, which is based in Dunfermline, is to consolidate its back office finance and administrative functions.

Livingston was selected after an assessment of a number of other potential locations in Europe and Asia.

The firm will base the new staff at its existing centre in Livingston.

Grant funding

Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen said: "The news that BSkyB is further increasing its Scottish presence with the establishment of centre of excellence at Livingston is extremely welcome.

"Scottish Development International worked hard to secure this project and it is being supported by a Regional Selective Assistance grant from the executive of �800,000.

"This announcement is evidence of the company's confidence in what Scotland has to offer as a business location. I wish BSkyB, at each of its Scottish sites, every success for the future."

Martin Togneri, Scottish Development International (SDI) chief executive, said: "BSkyB is a long-term inward investor to Scotland, having grown its operations over 5,000 people.

"This is testimony to the tremendous work ethic that prevails in their and others' customer service and shared service centres that have chosen Scotland for their operations."

A spokeswoman for BSkyB said: "We've enjoyed a big presence here since 1989 and we're impressed with the quality of our existing Scottish workforce which currently stands at around 6,000 people across sites.