Fusion Contact Center Launches Apprenticeship Program

Fusion Contact Centre Services has announced a new apprenticeship program, in partnership with City of Sunderland College.

The apprenticeships will promote excellence in customer service and nationally recognised qualifications.

The partnership follows on from the success of Fusion's first ever apprenticeship programme, which saw six young people - between the ages of 16-18 - secure permanent jobs at the company earlier this year.

The North East is renowned for its contact centre and customer services industry and the programme will help young people develop a career within this important sector.

The 15 new Fusion Sunderland Apprentices

The new scheme builds on the success of the inaugural programme and will involve the apprentices studying at City of Sunderland College for one day a week and then learning on the job in the busy financial services contact centre for the remainder of the time. Fusion Sunderland has gone through strong growth in recent months and the apprentices will experience first hand what it means to be on the frontline of major financial services brands.

Dave Hall, Director of Work Based Learning at City of Sunderland College, stated:

"We closely observed the success that Fusion's first apprenticeship scheme achieved and felt that the business was an ideal partner for us because of its commitment to providing career opportunities for local people. The customer services sector is one of the success stories of the North East - with the market opening up more career opportunities than ever before. Partnerships between colleges and businesses are invaluable and this opportunity really is exciting because it offers young people the chance to work with leading household financial services brands on their doorstep - which otherwise may not be possible."

Sarah Burns who is the Site Manager at Fusion Sunderland and also heads up the apprenticeship programme added:

"We were thrilled with the success of our first apprenticeship programme and by formalising our new relationship with Sunderland College we will boost the programme even further. Fusion works closely with other Contact Centres in the North East and the industry is keen to highlight and promote ongoing and interesting careers. Fusion not only provides ongoing training it also has a comprehensive learning and development programme in place which includes additional advanced NVQ's, as well as Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) and Chartered Management Institute (CMI) qualifications - so our new apprenticeship programme adds another important layer to this."

The Fusion Apprenticeship Scheme is linked to the company's wider 'corporate responsibility' strategy which involves it supporting local primary school, Highfield as part of an ongoing relationship.

About Fusion

Fusion is a contact centre operation with sites in Peterborough, Coventry, Sunderland in the UK, and Cape Town, South Africa. It employs more than 1,300 people across these sites. Fusion is part of the BGL Group, which was founded in 1992 and has grown to become one of the UK's leading personal lines insurance groups. To learn more about the new Apprenticeship opportunities please visit: http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
 

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