THE closure-threatened Goldfish call centre in Cumbernauld is being taken over, saving 800 jobs.

THE closure-threatened Goldfish call centre in Cumbernauld is being taken over, saving 800 jobs.

Scottish and Southern Energy today announced it had bought the credit card call centre from its owner Barclaycard.

As well as saving most of the current workforce, the new buyer believes there is scope to expand the operation, with the possibility of another 200 jobs being created over the next couple of years.

The possibility of creating a training centre there has also been raised.

First Minister Alex Salmond, who made a surprise visit today to the Hunt Hill site, said the takeover would be a "huge relief to the workers".

He added: "This will be a significant boost to Cumbernauld and to the Scottish economy.

"Finding this new buyer is a tribute to all those involved and the best possible outcome for the workers.

"It's also a tribute to the quality of the workforce and the call centre."

Barclaycard formally announced its plans to close the call centre on May 7 - three months after buying the US-owned Goldfish credit card business for £35million.

But fears for the future of the site came in February after a announcement by Barclaycard it planned to axe the call centre.

It had decided to switch the work done in Hunt Hill to three other centres in England and workers were told they would be made redundant in August.

But today's announcement changed all that.

The new owner, Scottish and Southern Energy, is one of the largest energy companies in the UK.

It is involved in the generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity and gas, electrical and utility contracting and telecoms.

Talks about another possible takeover for the call centre had been going on for a few months but had been kept quiet until today's announcement was made by Mr Salmond.

He went to the call centre ahead of a Barclaycard announcement to the Stock Exchange and after staff were told.