A HUNDRED new shortterm jobs are being offered by a Southend call centre which has won a new contract.

Converso, which first set up in the town in 1997, has recently signed a significant new contract which means it needs to hire another 100 staff to do the work.

It says the new recruits will work on detailed phone-based market surveys on a range of social issues across the whole of the UK.

Chris Persson, Converso’s group sales and marketing director, said: “We are delighted with this contract and to have created these interesting jobs in the local community.”

Because of the sensitive nature of the contract, Converso is not able to disclose the identity of its new client.

In the past, it has worked for global companies, including as BP oil, car-maker Porsche and the sat nav firm, TomTom.

Based in Thamesgate House, in Victoria Avenue, Converso provides call centre facilities for companies around the country.

Graham Longley, Southend councillor responsible for enterprise, tourism and economic development, welcomed the news.

He said: “It’s great news for the town, local jobs for local people.

“Any provision of extra jobs must be good news. We would definitely welcome it.

“Converso has used the skills Southend has and has built up over many years in terms of call centre work.”

David Birch, of Essex Chambers of Commerce, said he hoped the announcement would mark the start of an upward employment trend in the area.

He added: “We are delighted with anything that brings new jobs into Southend and the surrounding area.

“It is a vote of confidence for the town’s economy and we hope it will be the start of more companies increasing their workforce as the economy grows.”

The new recruits will double the number of people employed by Converso, but they will be hired on fixedterm contracts, until the 2015 general election.

Anyone interested in applying should email careers @converso.co.uk, quoting reference EC1.