Indian call centre giant pledges 150 jobs for Selkirk

UP to 150 jobs will be created in Selkirk over the course of next year under a pledge by the new owner of a customer service facility in the Scottish Borders town.

India stock market listed Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS) said its move to acquire the site gives security to the 265 staff already based there, while revealing that it will embark on a 12-month investment programme at the premises.

HGS, which acquired the site from an unnamed leaseholder, has made the acquisition in anticipation of growth forecasts for the year ahead.

It will provide services to its existing customers, which are drawn from a range of sectors, in Selkirk. Those include Money Advice Service, which became a customer in the autumn.

The commitment of HGS to Selkirk comes shortly after Partha Desarkar, global chief executive of HGS, met Deputy First Minister John Swinney at its headquarters in Bangalore, where the plans for the Borders were discussed.

Mr Desarkar said: “I am delighted to have met with the Deputy First Minister and to confirm HGS’S commitment to Scotland with the acquisition of our site in Selkirk.

“We are excited to bring continued economic growth to the location and I am pleased to say that HGS will be offering up to 150 new job opportunities to the region over 2019.

“The location and people of Scotland deliver best-in-class performance for our growing roster of clients.”

Mr Swinney said: “Hinduja Global Solutions are highly valued investors and I am delighted with their continued growth in Scotland. This is a clear confirmation of Scotland’s attractiveness to inward investors.”

Paul Lewis, managing director of Scotland Development International, said HGS has “ambitious plans to develop a world class call centre in Selkirk which is testament to the skills and talent we have here.”