BT has unveiled plans to develop a new multi-million pound contact centre in Dundee which is set to house around 1,000 employees.
Located at West Marketgait in the heart of the city centre, the new office is expected to open in late 2023.
Once complete, the state-of-the-art contact centre will be one of around 30 of BT’s new future-fit offices in the UK, developed as part of its ‘Better Workplace Programme’.
BT says the programme is the largest workplace improvement and consolidation scheme of its type ever undertaken in the UK.
BT currently has an office at Ward Road in Dundee, where around 1,000 colleagues are based. Over the past four years, the telecoms giant has recruited hundreds of people in Dundee.
However, the new building will include what the designers have described as a ‘street landscape,’ with areas for colleagues to socialise while enjoying great views over Dundee and the River Tay.
Commenting on the announcement, BT Group Scotland director Jane Wood said: “This is exciting news for my colleagues in Dundee and reflects BT’s continued investment in Scotland.
“As one of the largest employers in Tayside, we know that this investment will be welcomed by many people, not least my colleagues who will be based at this brilliantly designed new office.”
Wood added: “We’re pleased that Dundee, an iconic Scottish city, will remain home to nearly 1,000 frontline workers who help customers right across the UK, every day.
“We look forward to welcoming staff into our new building when it’s complete.”
John Alexander, Leader of Dundee City Council, welcomed the announcement, adding that the plans represent a “huge vote of confidence” in the city.
He said: “It is clear that BT shares our vision for a Dundee that has a strong and sustainable economy providing jobs, retaining more graduates and making the city a magnet for new talent, while at the same time offering real choice and opportunity in a place that has tackled the root causes of social and economic exclusion.
“The company will be an integral part of that journey with us, and I am delighted that BT sees Dundee as a good place to do business and recruit its present and future workforce.”
Teams based at the Dundee office will benefit from Openreach’s full fibre broadband network, as well as EE’s 5G mobile network, which the company switched on in Dundee last month.
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Crucible Developments is leading the construction of the development, and is working closely with Scottish Enterprise and property firm Camlin as part of the project.
According to Crucible, the site will be Dundee’s first-ever ‘platinum wired scored’ building. This means the building will be the most resilient building in the city from an IT and connectivity standpoint.
The building will also have sustainable credentials, such as BREEAM Excellent rating, which ensures its environmental impact will be minimal.
Michael Smart at Crucible Developments comment: “We are delighted to have secured BT as an occupier. The site is undoubtedly one of the best in Dundee and we are extremely proud of the building our team have created.
“We hope to commence construction as soon as possible and, once completed, the development will bring a prominent brownfield site back into use and further increase the vibrancy of Dundee city centre.”