ONDIGITAL CENTRE HANDED OVER TO WDA

THE Welsh Development Agency (WDA) are celebrating the in budget, on time delivery of the second phase of ONdigital's Pembroke Dock Contact Centre, which has been handed over to the WDA by Pembrokeshire contractors Cotton Ltd.
Their £3 million, 25,000 square foot premises at Cleddau Bridge, ‘Cyber Bay’ business park is 12 per cent larger than the first centre and incorporates subtle design changes to give it a distinct identity.
It was essential the building, developed in partnership with the Pembrokeshire County Council, was completed on time to meet ONdigital's business schedule. Providing customer services to the million plus subscribers to ONdigital, the two contact centres now accommodate more than 900 employees, with more recruitment underway.
Gary Jones, the WDA's Senior Project Manager, who supervised the construction, said it was a tribute to Cotton's management team and workforce that it was delivered on time and to budget - despite the wettest autumn and winter on record.
At one point the bad weather delayed construction to such an extent that the contract was seven weeks behind schedule. The success was due to the local team effort, he said, which involved up to eighty operatives working on site, mainly from Pembrokeshire firms and subcontractors.
The new air-conditioned centre is a twin for the original futuristic building overlooking Cleddau Bridge. Special features include a sloping, glazed entrance screen with recessed doors and integral glass block fire escapes to each wing. It boasts state of the art facilities backed by ample car parking, and is likely to be another big hit with employees who have welcomed the centres not only for the working conditions but the boost to job prospects in Pembrokeshire.
The opening of the new centre coincides with the recent announcement that ONdigital will be renamed ITV Digital and become ITV's pay television platform.
Growth in the last quarter has given ONdigital 1.087 million subscribers.
The centre is managed on ONdigital's behalf by leading customer contact management company, 7C, with leading recruitment specialist, Manpower, providing recruitment, facilities and HR management. (CD)