In line with its explosive growth, Verisure UK is to add an additional 120 employees to its 650-strong team by the end of the year, following the relocation of its Centre of Excellence within Quorum Business Park, North Tyneside.
Following a £3.5 million investment, Verisure, Europe’s largest alarm provider, has moved from the Neon Building to nearby Q12, which provides three times the space as its previous office at 90,000 sq. ft and will eventually house 1,200 employees.
The first two floors at Q12 consist of modern working spaces, while the third floor will have a dedicated canteen and break out areas.
The firm hit 100,000 customers in the UK in March 2022 and a portfolio increase of nearly 50% in the last 12 months. The milestone was reached just months after Verisure reached four million customers worldwide, in December 2021.
As a result, nearly three years after its arrival in Newcastle, the Centre of Excellence has expanded twice as fast as expected in terms of headcount, to keep up with the unprecedented sales growth.
Verisure has created 650 jobs since its opening and is actively seeking 120 new staff before the new year. Headcount is anticipated to approach 1,200 in the next three years. This compares with its initial forecast of 1,000 jobs after ten years.
The Centre of Excellence is the rapidly growing hub for customer service, technical support, field operations, training, IT, telesales, HR and finance. In its latest recruitment drive, Verisure is looking to fill a wide range of roles including customer service, sales, operations, data analysts, telesales, technical advisors and technicians.
In addition, the company seeks to appoint alarm receiving centre ambassadors. The position requires quick-thinking, first responders, to handle emergency situations, ensuring customers and clients are always protected. In contrast to 999 calls, ambassadors assess and determine an incident and act accordingly.
Managing director, Gabino Sanchez, said: “I’m delighted that our expansion plans are ahead of our original forecasts. We came to the North East at the start of 2020 and then Covid hit. But due to the tremendous workforce we have at Verisure, we’ve excelled and, in just over two years, have recruited over 650 people. When our forecast was 1,000 people in ten years, I couldn’t be prouder of our team.
“Quorum Business Park have been stellar in its support of us. When we first moved here, we set our sights on the building we’ve now moved into which, to some, seemed like a pipe dream, when we only had a skeleton team of people. The Quorum team has been very supportive in our journey and growth.
“The North East has proven to be the perfect place to have a major arm of our business. The city, the culture and the people. Our aim is to continue to grow.”
Kevin Croft, site director at the Centre of Excellence, said: “I am extremely proud of the can-do and supportive culture we have developed at the Centre of Excellence and am delighted that, during these uncertain economic times, we can offer 120 high quality jobs between now and the end of the year.
“Many of the people we employ have taken the opportunity to progress their careers further with us by upskilling and showing a positive attitude. We are building a strong, cohesive team and looking to support them further with the recruitment of people with potential that we can develop and who will grow with us.”
Jamie Baldridge, director of Park Services, Quorum Park, said: “The way in which Verisure has grown and evolved here at Quorum Park over the past two and a half years has been phenomenal, especially given the major challenges that have arisen over that period. We are thrilled that its success here in the North East has led to this moment and absolutely delighted to see the company take occupation of Q12.”
Elected Metro Mayor for the North of Tyne, Jamie Driscoll, said: “120 new jobs. That’s 120 people’s lives made that bit better. Nice one, Verisure. They’ve already clocked what more and more companies are noticing these days. That the North East is a fantastic place to be – to live, to work, to thrive.”