Arbroath-based Journeycall granted key worker status

Arbroath contact centre Journeycall is in the process of setting up 350 staff to work from home after being identified as a key worker due to its support to the transport industry.

Among its clients, Journeycall provides smart card technology and customer support for Transport for London and West Midlands Trains.

On Wednesday, the business received a letter from the London Mayoral Office confirming it had been identified as a key worker, among “those who will keep the air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating during the Covid-19 response including those in supply chains”.

Journeycall said it had dealt with an increased number of customer service inquiries in the past month, as well as providing three additional emergency lines purely to support key workers as they travel in this critical time.

The company is undertaking the massive task to allow working from home. Some 120 staff have already moved to home working, with another 80 to follow in the coming days.

A total of 350 staff will be working from home by the end of the process.

The premises in Arbroath currently remain open yet are operating with a substantially reduced daily head count and practise guidance in relation to social distancing.

Theresa Slevin, chief executive of Journeycall’s parent company ESP Group, said: “We are deeply concerned about the challenge facing all of us due to Covid-19, but are proud to fall under the essential workers category, as we continue to deliver crucial services for the majority of the UK’s train operators.

“We are working round the clock to ensure that as many of our employees can work from home as possible, and have prioritised all high-risk personnel as part of this process.

“It has been a mammoth task to migrate over 200 people to work from home and the work of our IT team has been incredible – they managed to set up the first 120 in just three days.

“In order for those saving lives to continue to do so, there are many, many people behind the scenes, and this includes transport services and their support teams.

“We’re pleased that we have been able to act quickly and strategically to allow for our work to carry on in this time of need.”