Contact centre acquires helpline specialist

Award-winning contact centre business The Listening Company has acquired The essentiagroup, a specialist in information and guidance helplines, with support from Clydesdale Bank.

The essentiagroup employs 450 people in its Glasgow, Newcastle and Brora contact centres serving clients within the public, voluntary and pharmaceutical sectors. Its advice lines cover such issues as smoking cessation, substance misuse and sexual health. Its prestigious client list includes the COI, the Scottish Government, the British Medical Association, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and the Department of Health.

The Listening Company is the fastest growing contact centre in its sector, with bases in Portsmouth, Richmond and Tonbridge.

The combined Listening group of companies, employs over 2,500 people in six locations in the UK, managing over 31 million conversations a year and and has revenues of over £55 million.

Chief executive of The Listening Company, Neville Upton, said: "We are delighted to acquire The essentiagroup. Our growth strategy requires us to be innovative in the way we develop our products and services across multiple channels, and this acquisition makes that more possible."

Alan Davis of Clydesdale Bank said: "We are very pleased to be involved in the strategic growth of such a successful niche business as The Listening Company. Both companies complement each other’s range of services. Their combined skills will help them to achieve further growth within the marketplace."