Hub growth brings jobs

Shoab Akhtar . . . NSL's important role

NEW job and training opportunities are being created by an outsourcing services firm which is turning its Oldham office into a national centre of excellence.

NSL opened an office in Chadderton in 2012 with just ten members of staff. Now it employs 130 people and is based in Oldham town centre.

The firm says its workforce is set to double over the next two years with a mix of new roles including traineeships for young people.

The principal activities of NSL's Oldham operation are telephony, correspondence, back office processing and vetting for public and private sector clients.

Current vacancies include customer services, telephony, correspondence and vetting roles but NSL says it expects to be seeking new recruits in a wide range of different roles over the next year.

Shelley Key, the manager of NSL's Oldham contact centre at Henshaw House, near the Market Place, said: "NSL now handles over 700,000 calls a year and the operation is going from strength to strength. As we continue to grow the operation, we're expecting to handle the processing of 445,000 penalty charge notices and 350,000 right to work checks over the next year. It really has been a success story and a credit to our highly motivated and growing team in Oldham."

After moving to more flexible and spacious town centre offices last summer, the company is now looking to build on this success by capitalising on new business processing and service opportunities for public and private clients.

Mrs Key added: "We're already one of the largest employers in the town centre but we also have plenty of room for expansion with space for well over 200 members of staff. So securing our status as a national centre of excellence, will be a feather in our cap and will also offer plenty of new job opportunities for local people as more organisations look to harness our expertise and capabilities."

NSL is working with Oldham Council and supporting the Get Oldham Working scheme to create new work experience opportunities and traineeships, which are aimed at young people who want an apprenticeship or job but do not yet have the required skills.

Councillor Shoab Akhtar, Oldham Council's cabinet member for employment and skills, said, '"NSL plays an important part in shaping Oldham's employment and economy and is expanding every year. NSL has already employed more than 100 people at its new offices in Oldham - which shows its commitment to the borough.

"It is continuing to support the Get Oldham Working scheme, helping to create new opportunities for residents. It is growing all the time and we hope NSL has a great future ahead."

NSL has various operations all across the North-West and is a long-standing service partner of many local authorities.