Call centre firm to boost workforce after B&Q deal

A Motherwell-based call centre is to almost double its workforce and open a new office on the back of winning a multi-million-pound contract with DIY retailer B&Q to cover all its customer-service channels.

Ascensos managing director John Devlin. Picture: Alan Watson

Ascensos said its headcount is to reach 750 from 400 currently and “ensure it is on target to employ over 1,000 people by 2017”.

The firm is to open premises in Clydebank, after winning the deal to supply services including telephone, email, web and chat services to B&Q from October. It already provides real-time social media contact support to the retailer.

Managing director John Devlin said: “We have established a great relationship with Kingfisher Group and we look forward to building on this and creating a world-class facility for B&Q, their customers and our team in Clydebank.

“Ascensos has grown quickly in the last two years, and this expansion in Clydebank starts another key chapter in our success story.”

Devlin set up the firm in 2013 along with Katrine Young and call centre industry veteran Dermot Jenkinson – currently interim chairman at John Menzies – and it has since won deals with Argos, Karen Millen, Oasis and ScottishPower.