Bradford is to get a significant employment boost with plans by one of its leading businesses to create up to 250 new jobs in the city centre.

Credit firm Provident Financial is to open a new call centre at its Thornton Road head office, where about 750 staff already work.

Although the move is yet to be formally confirmed, it is likely that the call centre for Provident’s expanding Vanquis Bank credit card subsidiary will be established towards the end of this year, with staff being recruited over the next couple of years.

The move has been hailed by Bradford Council leader Councillor Ian Greenwood as a major boost for the city centre which could also help retailers.

The decision to open a second call centre came after Vanquis Bank outgrew its original base in Chatham, Kent.

It follows recent news that nearly 200 jobs could be created at the former Shires Bathrooms site at Lidget Green by The Italian Furniture Company. If approved by Council planners, the move would also see the opening of a Tradex discount store and a bed manufacturing business.

Provident chief executive Peter Crook said choosing Bradford for a second call centre was “a no brainer” as the city had an exceptional talent pool.

Last year Vanquis Bank increased its customer numbers and income by about a quarter and is on track to be a £450 million operation by 2012 and continue growing strongly. It operates a credit card for those with a poor credit history with lower cash limits and a telephone support service for users.

The new call centre will fill spare space at Provident’s new head office in the £50 million Southgate development which opened last autumn.

Mr Crook said: “There’s a significant business case for establishing the new call centre in Bradford. It will improve operational synergies and enable us to use spare capacity at head office.

“It is a no brainer and an easy decision to develop the new operation in Bradford which has a rich talent pool of people from which we can recruit. I’m very happy that we’ll be building on our long tradition of operating in Bradford where we have our group base.”

Coun Greenwood said: “I’m delighted that 250 new jobs are coming to Bradford and that Provident is showing confidence in the city. We need moves such as this to grow the city centre with more people working here and spending money in the centre, which will boost the prospects of retail development.

“We have been working closely with Provident over the past two years, not least through the loan the Council provided to the developers of the Southgate project which ensured that the firm’s new headquarters was finished on time.

“It’s great that Provident has shown its confidence in Bradford by bringing new jobs to the city because of the availability of suitable people.”

Harold Robinson, president of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said: “It’s good that 250 jobs are to be created in the centre of Bradford. Even though the economy is recovering slowly, many employers are still not ready to start recruiting new staff so this will be a boost for the city.”

  • Read the full story in Thursday's T&A