Work began this week on the creation of a new contact centre for the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) inside Sunderland Empire in what was formerly the Hospitality Suite.
Sunderland Empire is owned by the City Council but is run by ATG which has over 40 venues in Britain, in the US and Germany and is also an award-winning theatre producer with productions in the West End and on Broadway, along with touring productions in the UK, North America, Australia and Asia. ATG is also a market leader in theatre ticketing services through ATG Tickets, LOVETheatre and Group Line.
The new centre, which will, it is planned, open on 14 September, will bring 60 new jobs to the city.
Sunderland is home to major call centre operations for companies including Barclays, Parseq and Npower.
Cllr John Kelly, Portfolio Holder for Public Health, Wellness and Culture at Sunderland City Council, said, “the Empire Theatre plays a key role in the city’s cultural life and economy, attracting large numbers of visitors into Sunderland to see top quality shows, many of which have transferred from London’s West End.
“We are delighted ATG has selected Sunderland as one of its two new national ticket sales centres which will further boost the Empire’s already strong role within the city’s economy and raise the profile of the theatre on a local, regional and national level.”
Ben Phillips, the theatre’s General Manager, added, “we are delighted that the contact centre will be based in Sunderland. We are the West End of the north east so it is only fitting to help support contact centre operations for ATG at our venue, creating an influx of 60 new jobs for the area.”
Adverts for the new jobs are already on the ATG web site—www.atg.co.uk/jobs—and will appear in the local press from Wednesday 29 July.