1,200 jobs are saved at a Liverpool city region call centre operator thanks to a last-minute rescue deal. Tony McDonough reports
Merseyside call centre operator The Contact Company (TCC) has secured a rescue deal that safeguards the jobs of its 1,200 employees.
Media outlet Business Desk revealed on Tuesday that TCC, which has its headquarters in Wirral Waters close to the Birkenhead waterfront, had filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators on Friday.
TCC, which was founded by leading Liverpool city region businessman Asif Hamid, had been working with FRP Advisory partners David Acland and Martyn Rickels on a restructuring plan.
Mr Hamid had founded the business in 2006 with just 15 staff and, at one point, this grew to 1,500 people as the firm secured contracts with blue chip clients. However, in March 2022 TCC suffered a cyber attack with Asif described as a “body blow”.
Its most recent annual accounts revealed pre-tax losses of £2.4m and a 20% drop in revenues to £33m. TCC did secure a funding facility with Independent Growth Finance but last week the company was on the brink of collapse.
Now FRP Advisory has secured a sale of the business to Sensée, a London-based work-from-home CX Outsourcer Sensée, for an undisclosed sum. Until now Sensée employed around 800 people.
Asif will remain with TCC and it will continue to trade under its current name. He said: “This is fantastic news for TCC, its clients and our dedicated team.
“Sensée has earned a reputation as the premier CX [customer experience] outsourcer in the UK with its unparalleled WFH technology platform that connects the best talent to the best brands.
“We are proud to join the Sensée family and look forward to an exciting future together.”
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Steve Mosser from Sensée added: “This acquisition allows Sensée to offer exciting new advantages to TCC and its clients.
“With our unique talent elasticity, scalability and productivity, we will enhance customer experiences and deliver even greater value.
“In turn, Sensée will benefit from TCC ’s extensive experience in the retail and public sectors and their expertise in running highly efficient office-based services.”