Computers
Repairs
Sales
Service
Desktops & Laptops
Phones
Cameras
ipods
Consoles
& Games
01851
700178
17 Bayhead St
Stornoway, Lewis
Jobs boost as consumer helpline expands 13/12/11
New jobs are being created on Lewis as the Citizens Advice Bureau takes over the running of a national consumer helpline.
The Consumer Direct role will soon be known as Citizens Advice Direct.
The Scottish arm will continue to be based in the Western Isles. A £370,000 development grant by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will provide first class facilities at Gleann Seileach Business Park in Stornoway.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar staged a coup in attracting the original Scottish centre for Consumer Direct to the islands. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) awarded the contract to the council, creating vital jobs.
But the coalition government is making sweeping changes to quangos. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) will merge with the Competition Commission. Its consumer protection responsibility will be transferred to local councils.
The Consumer Direct helpline will be renamed Citizens Advice Direct. The current Consumer Direct team based at Shawbost will relocate to Stornoway with plans to expanded the workforce to 41 people by March.
Additionally, Citizens Advice Direct will have the space they need to expand services, and grow by up to a further 40 posts in the future.
Kirsteen McDonald, Citizens Advice Direct’s CEO, said: “We are delighted to be developing the range of services we offer in the Outer Hebrides. We were initially attracted here from our Glasgow base because of the Islands excellent reputation for business services and we are optimistic about finding additional staff of the same high calibre.”
The building will be ready in March 2012 and recruitment will begin immediately. The skills level of the posts means that salaries are expected to be considerably above the average and the total impact on the local community is estimated at just under £1.125 million.
Archie Macdonald, HIE’s Area Manager in the Outer Hebrides commented: "In Highlands and Islands the Financial and Business Services sector is vibrant, with a number of current growth projects across the area. This proposal represents a deepening and strengthening of the sector in the Outer Hebrides, which is a very welcome development in terms of attracting additional skilled and valued added roles to the area."
Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Angus Campbell, said: “Comhairle nan Eilean Siar welcomes the news that the future provision of this service has been secured for the area.
“This builds on the success of the service delivered by CNES over the last six years. We are delighted to see the skilled Consumer Advice jobs retained in the area. CNES will continue to work closely with Citizens Advice Direct and partners to ensure a smooth transition to the new service and premises.”
Citizens Advice Direct was set up in Glasgow in 2004 to serve a demand for telephone
based advice. They have contracts with NHS Scotland, Glasgow City Council, Big Lottery
Fund, Kinship Care, Armed Services Advice Project, Money Advice Service, Energy Savings
Trust, and Citizens Advice Scotland.