INSURANCE firm AXA has created 450 jobs at a new online call centre in the Tees Valley.
It comes as the company prepares to move into the newly refurbished Zetland Buildings in Middlesbrough on Monday.
Some of the staff recruited for the new offices, which take up around three quarters of the building, have already started with the firm and are working from AXA's existing offices in Stockton.
Further recruits will be taken on once it has moved into the offices, which will be responsible for online enquiries to both AXA insurance and its subsiduary swiftcover.com customers.
AXA Insurance operations director Dave Fretter said: "The business is going really well and we are now able to expand our swiftcover.com and AXA Insurance help teams."
Middlesbrough Council regeneration officer, Kevin Parkes said: "It is a huge vote of confidence for the town to attract an impressive investment in a beautiful and important set of buildings, especially in our nationally challenging economic circumstances.
"Connecting this part of the town with Middlehaven, the investment by AXA and the jobs created as a result is a huge boost for Middlesbrough and Tees Valley overall."
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