New call centre jobs are coming to Pembrokeshire

A company has opened in Pembroke Dock and is aiming to take on 50 people by the end of the summer.

Metropole Sales and Marketing (MSM) sells insurance for mobile phones and has opened in the historic Captain Superintendent's House in the town's Royal Dockyard.

The company moved into its new surroundings two weeks ago and already employs a staff of 15.

Richard Langston, a director of MSM, said the availability of trained call centre personnel was a big incentive.

We are anticipating more job-related announcement in the weeks ahead Maurice Hughes

"The staff have already been well trained and so far we are delighted with the quality of the workforce," he said.

ITV Digital

"It is certainly our aim to employ 50 people by the end of the summer if everything goes to plan."

The call centre industry in Pembrokeshire has been badly hit in the past 18 months.

Last May 800 workers were laid off at Cleddau Bridge following the collapse of the call centre's main client, the broadcaster ITV Digital.

Then in December Vertex - the firm which took over the running of the facility - announced it was pulling out after only two weeks in charge, with the loss of 223 jobs.

Pembrokeshire Council leader Maurice Hughes said he hoped MSM would help turn around the industry's fortunes.

"Since the demise of ITV Digital we have received a number of enquiries from businesses interested in opening facilities in Pembrokeshire" he said.

'Good work'

"This is in no small way due to the high quality of call centre staff on offer.

"Three of these companies are now open for business and creating jobs.

"Adkins Medical and Cyber Travel already employ about 50 people and now we have the prospect of a further 50 jobs with Metropole.

"A lot of good work has been carried in recent months out by Pembrokeshire Council, the Welsh Development Agency and our other partners.