OLD Town-based call centre Carpeo has announced an expansion of the business, with 25 new roles being created in Swindon ahead of a new branch in Wales.

Its headquarters in Prospect Place currently has 250 staff, but this week bosses announced they were opening a second site in Wales assisted by a Welsh government grant. The company aims to create 300 jobs over the next five years.

To support this, 50 new roles are available immediately, made up of a new telesales campaign operations manager, two team leaders and 23 telesales roles in Swindon, with a further 25 positions in Wales.

By the end of their May 2017 financial year, Carpeo’s turnover will have grown to £9.4M turnover and plans are to rapidly grow to £20m over the next four years, by expanding its current Swindon-based operation into Wales and potentially other areas of the country.

Carpeo founder and Director David Williams said: “We’re proud to be creating a significant number of jobs which consolidates our position in Swindon and sees us branching out into our newly refurbished sister-site in Newport, Wales very shortly. With over 300 jobs in the pipeline, this is great news for our staff, local economies, our clients and their own customers.”

The announcement comes as the business recently secured FCA accreditation which authorises it to sell financial services products direct to the public. This has seen them now move into the UK wills and funerals market.

The idea came from friends of Carpeo’s founding directors, who had bad experiences when family members died without leaving legally enforceable wills. In 2016, ThisIsMoney.co.uk revealed a shocking 60 per cent of adults don’t have a legally enforceable will, and 40 per cent had either inadequate or no provision for a funeral plan.

One in seven ended up in financial distress, having to pay for funeral arrangements before the proceeds of the estate are released.

David said: “Everyone wants to leave their affairs in good order, but the sad fact is most people don’t. It just seems wrong that so many people have to make the tough choice between enjoying life today and safeguarding their wishes and estate.

“Our unique and innovative membership scheme is designed to make it easy and more affordable through exclusive discounts and monthly, interest-free payments.”

Carpeo offers education and training leading to nationally recognised diplomas such as NVQ’s in Sales and Customer Service. An Equal Opportunities Employer, anyone interested in working for Carpeo at its Swindon site should go to www.contactcorp.co.uk to review current vacancies or call 07833 046084 to discuss an application.