Call centres look to recruit operators

The call centre cluster in Palmerston North is looking at every opportunity to recruit operators who will be laid off by SITEL next year.

The Chairperson of the Manawatu Contact Centre Cluster, Mike Manson, says he’s aware of at least three contact centres who are about to start a recruitment programme.

At least one centre is looking for 20 staff he says.

“We are making these centres aware of SITEL operators who will become available next year,” Mike says.

“We are disappointed to lose such a world class service, especially one that won the best directory service award for the world this year.”

Mike Manson, who is the City Council’s Business Development Executive, says Palmerston North has positioned itself to be a centre of excellence for contact centres and he’s hopeful that people of the quality of the SITEL operators will be engaged by other call centres.

He says the Manawatu Cluster is also actively pursuing a large call centre that is seriously looking to relocate to Palmerston North from another New Zealand centre.

“We are currently informing them of the benefits of coming here,” he says.