Client Relationship Management Centres
CRM Centres are a vital part of the economy. Swansea Bay has enjoyed much success in establishing and retaining CRM businesses in the face of much-publicised competition from overseas.
In all, more than 40 firms ranging from 50-600 seats operate here, among them NTL, HSBC, BT, DVLA, 118118. A Call Centre Forum enables companies to work together to overcome problems and share successes.
CRMs employ more than 6,000 people locally. Salaries are significantly lower than the UK average, and turnover, recruitment and retention the third lowest in the country.
The existing skills base is bolstered by Cygnus a dedicated training centre for call centre operatives. Owned by Cisco, it runs in conjunction with Swansea College, providing vocational qualifications and bespoke programmes for individual companies in a state-of-the-art training suite using BT Industry Standard hardware.
Sites are immediately available, ranging from brand new 45,000 square feet ready for use offices to smaller units with rents as low as £6.00 per square foot.
Regional Selective Assistance Grants of 47 % for SMEs, 35% for non-SMEs are the highest in the Europe.