Doorstep lender to open call centre

The new call centre will be based at the group’s Thornton Road head office, where it already employs 750 people, and is due to open later this year.

Provident’s chief executive Peter Crook said Bradford was the natural home for the new call centre as it has a ready-made infrastructure and an excellent labour pool.

The centre will handle calls at the group’s new retail banking arm, which will be launched later this year.

Provident said that a number of options had been examined to secure additional operating capacity needed to accommodate the growth of Vanquis Bank from early 2012.

The news was announced alongside a strong trading update for the first four months of 2011.

The group, which is keen to expand beyond its traditional doorstep collection business, says it is on track to deliver good quality growth in 2011, adding that its balance sheet and liquidity remain strong.