Dunoon-based CX Services, which provides services including direct mail, order fulfilment and call centre outsourcing, and already employs 20 permanent staff, has opened new premises at 9 King Street, Rothesay, on the Isle of Bute, which can accommodate up to 25 staff.

Greg Girard, the Dunoon-born and raised managing director who in 2019 acquired the business in a management buyout said: “We have chosen Rothesay to keep the business local but also because locating here gives us a new pool of talent to draw from.

We have long-standing connections in Rothesay and we knew there was a shortage of jobs there that we could help with. So, in effect, we are helping ourselves while also helping the local community.

There are a number of people on Bute with extensive experience in the telemarketing sector and we are keen to harness their talents.”

The top floor office, occupied formerly by Allied Healthcare, will accommodate, initially 15, local people and has capacity for up to 25. The company’s first batch of four trainees, two supervisors and two agents, have already started work. This number will rise to 15 in the future.

From its Rothesay office CX Services will service a major client in the retail sector with a view to adding further clients in that sector, as well as the financial and/or medical sectors.
The company plans to hold an Open Day for further recruitment once it has integrated its most recently hired team members.

Operations Director, Andy Hore added: “We are excited to be expanding and undertaking this new venture. Following our recent fifth anniversary we are delighted to be offering employment opportunities to another rural area in Scotland.

It has all been well received so far by the locals and we have had some great compliments from local businesses, so the community seems really happy that there are new opportunities for employment on the Island, especially from a Real Living Wage employer whose Head Office is also based in Argyll and Bute.”

The Argyllshire business has grown turnover by more than 40% to £1.7 million. Over the next five years, Mr Girard hopes to grow turnover further to £2.5 million, with significant jobs growth in the next two years.

He said: “One of our highest growth services is direct mail, which has grown around 20% since before the pandemic. With more people working from home, companies have seen printed mail delivered by post really helping to drive orders and online sales.”

CX Services’ customers include Scottish country clothing specialists the House of Bruar, life insurance and investments firm Scottish Friendly, membership organisation The Scotch Malt Whisky Society and Highland Broadband, which is delivering ultrafast full-fibre broadband across rural Scotland.

CX Services has warehouse teams in Dunoon and Ellesmere Port in Cheshire, which services two large healthcare clients. Mr Girard is keen to create the new roles in the Argyll & Bute area.

Mr Girard said one of the company’s most exciting developments was the roll-out of new ‘omnichannel’ telephony software, which allows agents to manage customer phone calls, web chat, email and instant messaging from a single platform.

CX Services also provides data management, digital printing and website development.