Recruitment drive launched for new multi million pound Yellow Pages 118 24 7 call centre in Newport

Yell, the international directories business, will next week launch the first wave of a major drive to recruit advisors for its new call centre in Newport, Gwent, to expand its award-winning Yellow Pages 118 24 7 service.

The advisors will be located in part of Usk House, a new 3.5 million office development on the cityís 4.6 acre George Street site. The FTSE 100 companyís new call centre is due to start handling calls in April.

The recruitment campaign is the first part of a substantial expansion plan for Yellow Pages 118 24 7 and will use a series of online assessment techniques - believed to be the first such detailed approach of its kind to be used within the UK call centre industry.

Yellís overall investment in the new centre could see the creation of more than 250 jobs phased over the next four years. It has received grant aid from the Welsh Assembly Government, and support from the Assemblyís International Business Wales team.

The recruitment drive starts next week with a series of print advertisements for both full-time and flexi-time roles, promoting the fulfilling and rewarding nature of working for Yellow Pages 118 24 7. The advertisements also reflect the growing desire by employees for a good work-life balance, stating that Yellow Pages 118 24 7 understands that work is only one part of an individualís life.

Applicants will be able to register their interest from February 19 at www.118247.com, where they will be asked for some basic background personal and work details.

If assessed as a potential candidate, they then progress through to a unique two-stage online selection process which determines an individualís motivations and aspirations. A detailed online assessment and a face-to-face interview follow, then possible selection and finally training.

Isabelle Hung, Yellís UK head of national resourcing, said: ìWeíre offering a competitive pay level at our Newport call centre and we want to select people who will be committed to the work and enjoy it within a happy environment.

ìOur new advisors need to help us maintain the high quality service that we provide and we want to make sure theyíre right for us and weíre right for them.

ìApplicants do not need to have had customer service or sales experience. Weíre looking for particular qualities rather than experience and to help us get just the right advisors weíre introducing unique online-based assessment techniques.î

The expansion of Yellow Pages 118 24 7 from its existing call centre in Bristol reflects substantial growth in the volume of calls to 118 24 7, particularly in the last 12 months.

In September last year, it was named the ìBest UK Serviceî in the 2006 International Directory Assistance Awards ñ the third year running it has secured the title. This was amongst a clutch of other awards including ìBest Training and Development Cultureî.