BSkyB to create 800 jobs through call centre
In a widely welcomed development described by the Government as “a vote of confidence” to the country, the Rupert Murdoch-owned, multi-channel station said hundreds of people will be employed within the next two years.
The jobs, which include those in customer services, human resources and training, will be located at a Sky customer contact centre that is due to open in Dublin’s Burlington Plaza in August.
The strong expectation is that the Sky sales centre — which is separate to the 800 new jobs and is run by private firm Abtran — will remain in Bishopstown, Cork City.
This is because while Abtran employs more than 1,000 people, the majority do not work on the Sky contract.
However, when asked specifically about a potential movement of the Cork positions, a Sky spokesperson would only state that the station has enjoyed “an excellent partnership with Abtran”.
The new Dublin positions will focus on the needs of Irish customers, whose services are currently looked after through centres in Dunfermline and Livingstone in Scotland.
Sky chief executive Jeremy Darroch said the Burlington Plaza location will allow the company to focus on this country from “one dedicated site”.
“I’m delighted that we are opening a centre in Ireland. Our Irish customers are very important to our business and the creation of this customer centre will ensure they receive first-class customer service,” he said. “We hope to recruit a committed and enthusiastic workforce and look forward to making further contributions to the local community.”
Richard Bruton, the jobs minister, said the move should be seen as “a very welcome vote of confidence in our workforce and in the Irish economy”.
The Dublin site will be Sky’s 10th customer service centre based in either Ireland, Scotland or England, with these bases catering for approximately 10.5 million people.
The creation of the positions are part of the TV giant’s wider plans to increase its 18,000 workforce by 1,300 in all centres over the next two years. A spokesperson said the wider workforce increase is taking place in order to keep up with “delivery changes” including computers, games consoles and iPhone technology.
* Further information on the new jobs is available at skycustomercentres.com.
