MUMBAI: UK pay TV service provider Sky is creating 550 new permanent jobs as it invests in its customer service and sales teams to support its growing product base. The roles will be located throughout the UK with 350 based at Sky?s existing customer contact centre in Newcastle.

The expansion of Sky?s Newcastle site, with 350 new recruits, will provide service and support to new customers joining Sky following the acquisition of O2 and BE?s consumer broadband and fixed-line business creating the UK?s second-largest home broadband provider. The new employees will form a dedicated broadband customer service team and will be joining Sky?s established in-house customer sales and service advisors located in the city centre from August onwards.

The additional 200 new hires will take up positions in Sky?s in-house sales team and will be based either at one of the stores in shopping centres across the UK, or working from one of Sky?s new sales vehicles which exhibit Sky products and services in city centres nationwide. Key locations for these roles include the north east of England, Yorkshire, the Midlands and the South Coast.

Sky CEO Jeremy Darroch said, "I?m delighted to announce our plans to expand our workforce with the creation of 550 new jobs. These new roles will help us to meet demand for our products and serve our growing customer base.

"Today?s announcement comes on top of the 700 previously announced new Sky jobs in our home installation team, bringing the total number of new Sky jobs created in the UK in 2013 to 1,250. In the past four years alone we have created 4,000 more jobs for people across UK and Ireland. I look forward to welcoming our new colleagues to Sky over the coming year." He concluded.

Sky serves over 10.7million customers across the UK and Ireland and is committed to providing a top-quality customer experience. The creation of these jobs is an example of its continuous investment in service. It forms part of an on-going programme to bring more of Sky?s customer workforce in-house and ensure its own people are available to serve customers. Sky opened its Newcastle site, one of ten customer service centres located across the UK and Ireland, in October 2011.

All successful applicants will receive training and support in the skills needed for the role, along with competitive salaries, rewards and benefits. All Sky employees receive free Sky+HD, Broadband and Talk, as well as excellent personal development opportunities.