200 MORE WORKERS

SEEBOARD today announced plans to create almost 200 more jobs in Hove.

The news takes the total number of new jobs at the company to 480.

Seeboard announced in February it was turning its customer services base in Portland Road into a "centre of excellence", with the creation of 300 new jobs.

The figure has now risen to 400, more than doubling the existing workforce there from 336 to 736.

And further jobs are being created at Seeboard's neighbouring offices in Portland Road, where 80 new field sales workers will join 200 existing staff at the electricity supply base.

The first 300 new posts have been filled and Seeboard has started recruiting the other 180.

Afew of the new staff have moved from Seeboard's centre in Croydon, which closed at the end of March, but the vast majority are local workers.

ASeeboard spokesman said the company was particularly determined to offer the best possible service to customers as it faced more competition due to the opening up of the electricity market.

Decision

He said: "Customers can now buy their electricity from any one of a number of companies and we have to make sure we're ahead of the game.

"In making their decision, customers have two main considerations - price and service. In order to maintain the level of service, we need more staff.

"Our experience locally shows us that Hove is an excellent base for the recruitment of staff with sound inter-personal skills."

The spokesman added: "This confirms Seeboard's position as being one of Hove's largest employers."

Hove MP Ivor Caplin said: "I'm pleased that Seeboard have made the smooth transition to restructuring the new business at Hove and that it has increased the number of jobs.

"I believe that we have a high quality workforce that can deliver for Seeboard and others who are thinking of relocating to Hove."

The 22-year-old offices at Portland Road have been fully modernised.

Astate-of-the-art call centre has been established with the latest furniture and flat-screen PCs, the first anywhere in Seeboard.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.