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CPP Group plc: CPP Expands UK Operations(M2 PressWIRE Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) RDATE:24072008 CPP Group plc (CPP), the leading provider of Life Assistance products and services in the UK, has proudly opened the doors of its new contact centre in Chesterfield. This is the latest step in CPP's continued expansion of its UK business. More than 150 people have already been recruited and an additional 50 jobs will be created before the end of the year. It is the result of the company's ambitious growth plans as an international marketing services business, offering customer management solutions to multi-sector business partners. Last year UK revenue was up 15 per cent on 2006 to GBP156m. Internationally the Group turned over GBP225.2m, up 14 per cent on the previous year. The new site was officially opened by John Bather, Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire and Hamish Ogston, CPP's founder and non executive chairman. The Mayor of Chesterfield, Cllr Fred Quayle was also present at the official launch as were representatives of Chesterfield Borough Council, the East Midlands Development Agency and Alliance SSP; these organisations were instrumental in bringing CPP to the town. Stephen Kennedy, CPP UK managing director says; "The opening of this office in Chesterfield is very exciting news for CPP. It is one of the biggest inward investments in Chesterfield in recent years and will contribute millions of pounds into the local economy. The new site will also enable us to maintain our high levels of customer service and at the same time offer our business partners more revenue generating and cost reduction opportunities." This investment by CPP is the company's third UK contact centre after York (headquarters) and Tamworth in Staffordshire. "Our contact centres in York and Tamworth currently handle over 4 million customer service conversations every year and Chesterfield will allow us to expand our UK operations considerably." The site in Chesterfield will provide outsourced marketing services on behalf of CPP's business partners in the financial services and telecom sectors. These non-core, but critical outsourced business services are underpinned by the provision and growing demand for CPP's Life Assistance products that are designed to help consumers live life and worry less. Today CPP protects 10.6 million consumers and works with over 280 business partners. Jeff Moore, Chief Executive of East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA), which has provided a grant of GBP1.75 million to support the investment said: "This is great news for Chesterfield and North Derbyshire and represents a huge commitment to Chesterfield by CPP. It recognises the opportunities that the area can offer to employers and also supports the wider need to diversify some of our local economies in the region. We have been particularly pleased to have worked alongside the Alliance SSP and Chesterfield Borough Council in order to bring CPP to the East Midlands." Cllr Ray Russell, Chesterfield Borough Council Leader added:"The Council very much welcomes the decision of CPP to open its new Contact Centre in Chesterfield. The creation of 200 jobs is a great opportunity for the town and will make a major contribution to the economic regeneration of the Borough." Speaking about the investment Paul Holmes, Liberal Democrat MP for Chesterfield said: "The creation of 200 new jobs in Chesterfield is good news for all. I understand that CPP are working closely with Chesterfield Borough Council and will be holding local job recruitment fairs. An increasing number of new businesses are finding Chesterfield an attractive place to locate in and CPP are a very welcome addition to that growing trend as the town transforms itself." Chief Executive of the Alliance SSP, Andrew Street said "I am delighted that CPP has chosen Chesterfield for this major new investment. It is a huge vote of confidence in the town where a number of exciting new developments are underway. CPP is a highly respected, fast growing and forward looking company and I am confident that its association with Chesterfield will be long and mutually beneficial". "The Alliance SSP's role is to help change and diversify the economic base of north Derbyshire and north Nottinghamshire partly through attracting new investors and we need to have more companies from the business and financial sector of this quality. We have worked closely with colleagues at Chesterfield Borough Council and emda over several months to ensure that CPP identified the best location and all other appropriate support ahead of this final decision. We will continue to support CPP as it recruits and trains local staff and settles into the town." CPP was established in 1980 and has operations in 12 countries across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. It has won numerous awards over the past year, including; Winner of the National Training Awards 2007, Finalist in the National Business Awards 2007 and Winner of the Business in the Community (BITC) Health, Work and Well-Being Award 2007. Notes to Editors: The CPP Group Plc The CPP Group Plc (CPP) operates in the emerging Life Assistance market. We help people deal with some of the tangible anxieties caused by modern living. Whether our customers have lost their wallets, been a victim of identity theft or are making plans for their retirement CPP can help remove the hassle from their lives leaving them free to enjoy life. Globally, our Life Assistance products and services are designed to simplify the complexities of everyday living whether these affect personal finances, home, travel, personal data or future plans. When it really matters, Life Assistance enables people to live life and worry less. We have 10 million customers and more than 280 business partners across Europe, North America and Asia and employ more than 1,700 employees who handle millions of service and consumer sales conversations each year. In 2007, Group revenue was GBP225.2 million, an increase of more than 14 per cent over the previous year. This is more than four times the sales level of 2000. CONTACT: CPP WWW: http://www.cppgroupplc.com Adrie Wessels / Eunice Lam for CPP Tel: +44 (0)208 741 1123 e-mail: [email protected] Ed Newman, Alliance SSP Tel: +44 (0)1623 819 814 e-mail: [email protected] ((M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to [email protected])). Copyright ? 2008 M2 Communications Ltd. |