VERICALL plans to create 209 living-wage jobs in Kirkcaldy in Fife over the next two years, after being awarded a £1 million Regional Selective Assistance grant from taxpayer-funded Scottish Enterprise.

VeriCall, founded in 2017 and based near Canary Wharf in London, has begun a recruitment drive for the Kirkcaldy contact-centre operation. It is moving into Lomond House at the Fife town’s John Smith Business Park.

Scottish Enterprise, noting VeriCall served “blue-chip firms”, said the contact-centre operator would announce a major client soon. It noted all of the roles being created by VeriCall would be full-time and permanent, meeting the Scottish Living Wage of £9.00 per hour.

Adam Taylor, managing director of VeriCall, said: “Whilst researching potential locations, we were drawn to the warm and accommodating nature encountered in Fife, which matches the manner in which we wish to represent our clients.”

Scottish Enterprise noted it had worked in partnership with Fife Council to attract VeriCall to Kirkcaldy, “fending off competition from other UK locations”.

Mr Taylor said: “Fife Council…demonstrated a desire to cultivate innovative, technology-focused businesses to create sustainable employment opportunities for future generations. This is an aim I am personally motivated to assist with.”

Gordon Mole, interim chief officer for business and employability at Fife Council, said: “It’s great news for mid-Fife to have VeriCall establish its headquarters and senior management team in Kirkcaldy. The Scottish Government and Fife Council set up the Fife Task Force to assist the area, following local job losses.”