Forty New Jobs Created in Nettleham

Complaint Handling Services, in Nettleham, wants to take on more claims advisors to more than double its workforce.

Staff at Deepdale Enterprise Park in Nettleham

Picture: Anne Draper

The new recruits will help customers claim money back from banks that have mis-sold payment protection insurance.

All the positions will come with permanent, full-time contracts, although the company could take on some part time staff.

Ms. Aily Slade, Human Resources officer at the firm, said the business had been impressed with the skills of workers in the Lincoln area since the branch opened last June. She said:

"We're recruiting in Lincoln because we have found the quality of candidates is higher here than in other areas and bigger cities.

"We've found people are very friendly here and there's a good community spirit, and that's what we're all about.

"There's also a better level of qualifications in Lincoln.

"Whether it's GCSEs or up to degree level, it just seems to be a good area for it."

Claims advisors can earn between £13,000 and £17,000 a year on a basic salary. However, the firm says there is potential for people to earn up to £2,000 a month extra in bonuses. There are thirty people working at the company in Nettleham, with a similar number working in the original office in Altrincham, in Greater Manchester. Although the Altrincham branch opened in 2010, the firm has chosen to expand in Lincolnshire. Ms Slade added:

"We get a better application rate here in Lincoln too, although Altrincham is in a bigger area.

"There's also not as much competition in this area from other call centres."

The firm offers a variety of incentives for good results and last year took a group of the top workers to Las Vegas. Ms. Slade said she was looking for people with some previous experience in a similar job.

"We're looking for people with sales experience, some personality and who are able to gain a rapport with people – someone with a bit about them."

Current claims advisor Mr. Dan Pounds, joined the firm last June. He said:

"It ticks the ethical box for me really. 

"The money is out there and the banks are holding on to it, so it's about getting the money to the people that deserve it. 

"The company is also good at training people so they can progress through the company."

To apply, e-mail a Cirriculum Vitae to Ms Slade at aily.slade@complainthandlingservices.co.uk

Apology from the BBC

Readers may recollect that I commented in my General Election Summary Briefing that the BBC's One Show last Thursday aired a piece about is being from a priviledge background going to hamper David Cameron's attempts to become Prime Minister. Iain Dale picked up the story and there was some coverage in the press about the BBC receiving over one hundred complaints.

I have had this by way of a responce to my complaint:

"Thank you for contacting us about the recent One Show item on class and politics. We've now had the opportunity to discuss your concerns with the editor of the programme and he’s asked us to pass on his response to you:

"I am sorry you felt the film was unfair to the Conservative Party and I would like to start my reply by acknowledging that we should have made clear that the film was one of a number of profiles of the main political parties. In this case the aim was to show it was no longer necessarily the case that voters felt a politician’s public school education or privileged background was a reason not to vote for them. The views of potential voters were evenly balanced on this point in the film and we highlighted the fact that Labour’s 'toff' attacks on the Conservative candidate at the Crewe and Nantwich bye-election had not worked. The film also highlighted Tony Blair’s attendance at a public school termed 'the Eton of the North' by one contributor. However I do accept that, overall, the reporting style and tone of the film may have under-played these points and led some to the impression of unfairness to the Conservative Party. The One Show production team is very aware of its responsibilities to ensure fairness in our output and I apologise that, on this occasion, the film did not fully do justice to that aim."

"We'd like to assure you that we've registered your comments on our audience log. This is the internal report of audience feedback which we compile daily for all programme makers and commissioning executives within the BBC, and also their senior management. It ensures that your points, and all other comments we receive, are circulated and considered across the BBC. Thanks again for taking the time to contact us with your concerns."