A state-of-the-art call centre opens officially today (Thursday, March 1, 2001) in the famous royal burgh of Dornoch initially creating seven full-time jobs with the prospect of more to come. The helpdesk facility is providing IT support services to major multi-national corporations across the UK, the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Nexus Management (UK) Ltd operates from a new complex on the Dornoch Industrial Estate supplying helpdesk support to a host of clients worldwide. Clients can be provided with a fully integrated IT support service including desktop support, network support, training, project management and application design.

In addition, by using the Internet and leading edge 'Virtual Private Network' (VPN) technology Nexus can provide clients with advanced, fully secure, remote helpdesk and network support.

UK helpdesk manager Bill Bennett said: "The Highlands of Scotland is an established location for call centre operations offering excellent facilities and a competent, able workforce. High on our agenda was also the need to find a secure site and these premises are ideal. We have already recruited five staff locally and are actively recruiting two more this month. We are offering client specific in-house training and high quality permanent jobs in a comfortable and stimulating working environment.

"The present staffing levels are just sufficient to cope with the current call volumes and new positions will be created as we expand our support and services client base.

"This centre complements the operation run by our sister company (Nexus Management Inc.) in Portland, Maine in the United States and alleviates the need to run a 24 hour operation in the US whilst continuing to provide comprehensive global support to our international clients."

Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE), part of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise network is providing development funding worth £18,200 towards the total set up costs of £250,000 .

Carroll Buxton acting chief executive for the local enterprise company said: "This is a great jobs boost for Sutherland and demonstrates to other potential inward investors that the Highlands is an extremely attractive location for knowledge based industries.

"This development will help further diversify the Sutherland economy and provide local people with employment opportunities and the chance to gain new skills."

Councillor Duncan Allan, Provost of Dornoch, said: "The Dornoch community welcomes the Nexus Management Helpdesk. This multi-lingual international business offers interesting and exciting opportunities for young people living around the Dornoch Firth."