Speaking as he visited the centre this morning, Salmond welcomed the decision to save all operations jobs and the company’s pledge to reach the site capacity of 1,000 employees within two years. 

In addition, SSE has also identified scope to develop a training centre on site and Barclays, and SSE have indicated that there may be opportunities for Goldfish corporate staff elsewhere in the Barclays operation or within the skill set required for SSE. 

Salmond said the news: “First and foremost this news will be a huge relief for the workforce at the call centre. Staff can now look to the future with confidence with one of Scotland's greatest companies, a fantastic development for both employees and their families.  

“Today’s announcement to save 800 jobs, with the potential for even more jobs to come, is a significant boost both for Cumbernauld and for the Scottish economy as a whole. The jobs saved today will mean more people with more money in their pockets. That's particularly crucial for families at the current time.”  

Salmond paid tribute to all those involved in arriving at what he called “the best possible outcome,” saying that the decision is a tribute to the quality of the existing workforce and of the contact centre itself.  

He continued: “It demonstrates that in Scotland we have the flexibility and the resourcefulness to adapt to the challenges presented by today’s economic challenges. The announcement today demonstrates the resilience of the Scottish economy in the face of global pressures. 

“There are many reasons to be optimistic about Scotland's economic future - we have a highly skilled workforce, a world class reputation in areas like financial services, life sciences and energy and a government and public sector that is totally committed to increasing sustainable economic growth. 

“The initiative today is a great boost for Cumbernauld after weeks of uncertainty and will be greeted with huge satisfaction across the local community.”