TWO MAJOR call centre operators yesterday confirmed plans to create a total of 420 jobs in Belfast.

Firstsource Solutions plans to open a second contact centre in the city after winning a new contract from UK entertainment group Sky. It is expected that Firstsource’s new centre at Donegall Square will employ more than 300 staff handling service calls for Sky broadband customers.

The Indian group already employs more than 1,800 people in Northern Ireland at an existing centre in Belfast, which it also hopes to expand and two in Derry.

Meanwhile BT said it has also chosen Northern Ireland as the location for a new “state-of-the-art contact centre” which will create 120 new jobs. The centre will provide flexible support to different parts of the BT Group and feature the latest contact centre technology. Minister for Enterprise Arlene Foster said the jobs being created could contribute £2.9 million a year in salaries to the local economy.

BT currently operates a number of facilities in Northern Ireland including two centres of excellence for digital customer care and a global development centre. It employs more than 2,500 people in the North.

Colm O’Neill, chief executive officer BT Northern Ireland, said: “Given the worldwide competition for foreign direct investment, we are delighted that BT Group has selected Belfast as the location for this unique contact centre. “We believe this is a great vote of confidence in Northern Ireland and the potential growth opportunities that exist here for us.”