fvJCo G City official excited by call centre ^F | J Story continued from page 1. City director of development services Steve Hyndman said in an interview the news is exciting for Belleville that, by most accounts, still seems to be enjoying an unparalleled economic and job-growth boom. "Winning this particular company would create a serious number of jobs in the city and would help the phenomenal growth rate the city has experienced over the last couple of years," said Hyndman. "We have been working with the company for a year to assist them make a sound business investment in our community." Hyndman would not elaborate further on the company's intentions in the city. Word, however, has travelled throughout the city in recent >veeks that NCO Group has been looking at establishing a new call center along Dundas Street East in a building occupied by the Belleville Bingo Sponsors Association. Robert Di Sante, president of NCO Group Canadian division, could not be reached by telephone at Montreal offices. In a statement issued to The Intelligencer, however, Di Sante said his company has set an ambitious schedule to open the call centre as early as this summer in Belleville if city job seekers have the skills desired. "NCO's call centre in Belleville would offer between 300-500 jobs for call centre representatives opening in July of this year. Belleville is a leading candidate for an NCO call centre due to the highquality labour market in the area and the state of the art data and telecommunications infrastructure," he said. "The final decision will be made once we confirm that we can find the number of employees we're looking for. We hope to see many resumes come in over the next few weeks. We are working closely with economic development officials at city7 hall to make this project a reality," said Di Sante. He noted that "while prior experience in a call centre environment is an asset, no experience is required. NCO's team will train all employees with the required system knowledge..." In surprising detail, the company laid out its plan for the new call centre in Belleville, noting that it would be open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. and would provide services for companies regarding accounts receivable, delinquent accounts and consumer care services. The company says it will pay a starting wage of "$8.75 per hour, late-shift premiums, and a monthly bonus plan of up to 25 per cent of the base salary based on performance." Employees would also enjoy group health and dental plan, longterm disability, and a company pension plan. The NCO Group describes itself as successful because it created "a great working environment...and many opportunities for advancement." The company also calls itself one of the largest contact-call ceittre companies in the world with more than 9,000 employees and an international network of 80 call centres around the world in Unitecl States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Puerto Rico. The new call centre would be the seventh in Canada for NCO Group. \ \" p-