Talking Tayside Contact Centre Week 2012

On Wednesday, November 14, during Talking Tayside Contact Centre Week, 

a group of business studies pupils from Grove Academy visited the Jobcentre Plus contact centre in Dundee.  Talking Tayside (www.talkingtayside.co.uk) was initiated by Dundee City Council in 2000. The forum is a public private partnership, established to develop the contact centre industry in Tayside and to promote a positive image of the industry in the community.

 “We’ve been arranging for school pupils to visit the contact centres in Dundee, Angus and Perth for several years,” said Susan Sidey, chair of Talking Tayside, the public private partnership initiated by Dundee City Council to develop and promote the local contact centre industry. “Spending time in a contact centre is an excellent way to dispel misconceptions about working in this industry, and to highlight the excellent career opportunities it can provide.”

During their visit to the Jobcentre Plus contact centre, the fifth and sixth year pupils found out more about what goes on in a contact centre and the career opportunities available in this dynamic and innovative industry. “They had the opportunity to see the theories, technologies and skills they’re learning about in the classroom in the context of a modern working environment,” said Mrs Fiona Rae, Grove Academy Business Studies teacher, who accompanied the pupils on their visit.

 “The contact centre industry is a significant employer in the Tayside area,” added Talking Tayside’s Susan Sidey. “With many high profile companies and public sector organisations having major contact centres here, including SSE, Tesco and Jobcentre Plus, it’s important to let local young people know what working in a  contact centre is about, which is why school visits are a key element of Talking Tayside Contact Centre Week.”