A CREDIT management and recovery business plans to create around 100 jobs in the coming months as part of an investment in excess of £500,000.
Scotcall Group has unveiled an ambitious three-year plan to increase turnover to more than £20 million.
Part of the strategy involves doubling the size of its headquarters on Blythswood Street in Glasgow to 20,000 square feet.
The fit-out there is scheduled to be completed at the end of August which will allow the business to treble the size of its customer contact centre and enhance its automated dialling services.
A recruitment drive for 60 people – ranging from senior management and professional services to office and field recovery positions – has been launched. A further 40 posts are expected to be added before the end of the year which would take staff numbers to more than 300.
The investment is being funded from group profits.
Managing director David Stevenson said: "These are exciting times within the group and we have big plans for the future.
"The traditional stereotypes of the debt collector are a thing of the past.
"Clients are demanding much more efficient, cost-effective credit management solutions from businesses such as ours.
"The cost of debt recovery can be very high, so we are investing heavily to drive down costs and develop innovative debt recovery solutions.
"Scotcall group is a market leader and we are excited about the opportunity to significantly grow turnover and create a wide range of new jobs.
"We have invested in equipment and property and now we want to get the people in as we have clients who are keen for us to do more work with them."
Scotcall, which reported turnover of £9.1m and pre-tax profits of £502,496 in the year to September 30, 2011, hopes to expand through organic growth but is open to acquisition possibilities.
Mr Stevenson added: "There is a bit of a shake-up going on at the moment with some American players coming in and making acquisitions.
"We are always looking at ways of growing our business as it is a big market out there. We receive about 100,000 cases per week even though we are just a small part of the market."
Scotcall operates across the UK for clients including banks, credit card companies and utilities.
The group owns Belfast Collection Services, Irish firm Emerald Isle Collections plus reconnection service Resolvecall.
The company recently appointed Neil Webb from outsourcing group Arvato as commercial director to lead the expansion, while Tracey Irving, formerly with Aegon and Barclays Wealth, has joined as head of human resources.
Scotcall believes its Hawkeye reporting technology – which allows clients to track where agents are in real time – is helping them win business.
Mr Stevenson added: "It means our clients can see we are meeting all the compliance and Office of Fair Trading governance as it allows them to see agents carrying out tasks.
"The client can access it from a desktop or web browser and it links into the hand-held devices of our agents in the field."
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