Airbles Road firm's B&Q deal

A Motherwell-based contact centre business is to almost double its workforce and open a new office, after winning a multi-million pound deal with B&Q.

Ascensos’s headcount is to grow from 400 to 750 and ensure it is on target to employ over 1,000 people by 2017.

The Airbles Road firm is opening an office in Clydebank, after winning the deal to supply the likes of telephone, e-mail, web and chat services to B&Q from October.

It already provides real-time social media contact support to the retailer, which is owned by Kingfisher Group.

Managing director John Devlin said: “We are delighted to be selected as a strategic partner of B&Q.

“We have established a great relationship with Kingfisher Group and we look forward to building on this and creating a world-class facility for B&Q, their customers and our team in Clydebank.

“Ascensos has grown quickly in the last two years, and this expansion in Clydebank starts another key chapter in our success story.”

Tibor Szabo, head of customer services at B&Q, added: “The warmth and positive spirit has been an important consideration in choosing Ascensos and the location to take our customer call centre forward.

“We are delighted to be expanding the work Ascensos is already doing to support our social media channels.”

Ascensos has previously won deals with Argos, Karen Millen and ScottishPower.