Talking up the region...

Call centres don’t always get a positive press, but there’s been nothing but good news emanating from one Seaham workplace.

The ResQ contact centre in Seaham is living up to the old adage that ‘it’s good to talk’ if the last two months are anything to go by.

Last month we reported how the quick-thinking of ResQ employee Kathryn Fisher prevented what was described at the time as a ‘potentially life-threatening disaster.’

While she was on a call, the person she was speaking to suffered a seizure.

Kathryn immediately summoned medical help which resulted in the caller receiving urgent medical treatment.

It earned the 35-year-old praise from her boss and thanks from the elderly gentleman she saved.

Now the whole company is in line for praise after announcing plans to take on 150 new employees.

The contact centre is an employment success story in the town.

Rapid expansion saw the Hull-based company open its second centre in Seaham two years ago. With more than 300 staff, the company is already the town’s largest employer.

That it is now expanding its workforce even further is yet more positive news for the town and the region as whole.

Lee Candler, general manager of ResQ at Seaham, said: “We are delighted to be bringing so many new jobs to the region.

“I have been here since we set up in Seaham and I am so proud of what we have achieved in so little time. We are big advocates of the region and proud to be contributing to the employment market in such a significant way.”

Life-saving and economy-boosting! Now that’s the kind of talk we love to hear.