Leeds call centre workers to receive computer training

12:30 15th April 2009

The establishment of a virtual call centre in Leeds will involve employees receiving IT training before working flexible hours from home.

Arise Virtual Solutions, a company based in Florida, is looking to take advantage of the northern accent by providing immediate employment for 300 people in the Leeds area, with recruitment likely to expand to an additional 700 jobs, reports the Yorkshire Evening Post.

Employees will be subject to a background check and will need to use their home broadband connection to take 60 hours of computer training, after which they could earn up to £9 an hour for at least 15 hours of work each week.

John Riordan, vice president of Arise International, told the paper: "There's a trustworthy nature to the northern accent. That's been tapped into by the call centre industry for many years and it's an accent that travels well throughout the UK."

The home-based positions will allow Arise to save money during the global downturn and yet still provide jobs in the region.

Companies should still prioritise training schemes during the recession, even if budgets have been cut, according to the Chartered Management Institute.