UP to 80 jobs are set to be created in the Borders through the launch of a utility firm’s £1 million customer service hub.
London-based Utility Warehouse’s (UW) facility will open in Ettrick Riverside Business Centre, Selkirk, in June.
The company – which provides energy, broadband, mobile and home insurance services – has already hired 25 advisors for the Borders hub, and is aiming to bring a further 55 on board across the next 18 months.
Andrew Lindsay, co-CEO of Utility Warehouse, said: “As a proud Scot, it’s great to be investing in Selkirk, creating local jobs and long-term career opportunities in the Scottish Borders.
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“Our business is delivering exceptional growth as we help more families than ever before save on their essential household bills.
“Excellent customer service is fundamental to our success and our new Selkirk team will play a key role in ensuring our prepayment customers receive the very best help and advice.”
The Selkirk hub will be the firm’s latest ‘centre of excellence’ having opened a similar facility in Burnley last year.
It comes amid a boom for the company, with the business on track to welcome more than one million customers in the next four to five years.
The firm said it chose Selkirk due to many people in the community already having a high level of customer service experience in the energy industry.
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The town’s charities will also benefit from £16,000 as part of the hub’s opening.
Two charities will receive £5,000 each, with two others receiving £3,000 from the company’s foundation.
UW’s Selkirk employees will help decide which causes receive the funding and it will be announced next month.
Professor Russel Griggs, chair of South of Scotland Enterprise, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Utility Warehouse to Selkirk and the south of Scotland.
“Our new five-year plan committed us to attracting ambitious investment, and the new UW hub will provide a significant boost to the local economy and provide opportunities for local people.”
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