Convergys expands before it moves in

Nov 11 2009 by Chris Knox, The Journal

US call centre firm Convergys is looking to create up to 75 extra jobs after announcing that it is to take up 10,000sq ft of extra space at the Quorum Business Park in Newcastle.

The firm announced in May that it was creating 300 jobs in the North East after taking up 40,0000sq ft of office space at the business park after securing a lucrative contract with a telecommunications provider.

It is leasing extra space, with developer Quorum Development Partners allowing it to move to an entirely new building – the 50,664 sq ft Q13 – without penalty, to accommodate the expanding requirement.

The company, which currently has more than 60,000 contact centre agents worldwide and already employs 350 people on Tyneside, is headquartered in Ohio, America, signs contracts with firms to manage their relationships with customers.

Convergys, which is due to move to the business park in January, already employs over 300 people in Newcastle at offices on Forth Street behind Central Station.

The expansion is the latest development at the business park, with Tesco announcing that it is to move its banking arm to a 100,000sq ft building at the site, which is the largest UK letting outside London this year.

Quorum Business Park is currently the largest speculative office development in England and as well as building 450,000 sq ft of new offices, is also building tennis courts, a five-a-side football pitch, shops, restaurant, nursery and a hotel.

It is already home to IBM, Convergys, Aesica Pharmaceuticals, OSG shipping, MWB and HMRC.

Fergus Trim, development director at Quorum, said: “It is fantastic news that Convergys is expanding before they even move onto the park.

“They had already committed to Q14 but we have a positive and constructive relationship with our tenants and were happy to help accommodate their growth and their wish to take a self- contained building.

“With a range of new buildings being developed, we have the ability to provide flexible solutions and provide future expansion options for successful and fast growing companies such as Convergys.

“We are still very much looking forward to welcoming them on to the park in January.”