NORTH Somerset’s job market received a boost this week when employees at a Comet call centre near Clevedon were told they will not be made redundant.

More than 130 positions at the company’s facility in Kenn were facing the axe as the electrical retailer looked to concentrate on its store operations.

However, staff were told the good news this week as Comet announced it would instead shut down a call centre in Hull and move all activity to its Clevedon base.

In February, bosses revealed plans to reduce Comet’s investment in the arm of its business which sees it carry out repairs on behalf of a range of other manufacturers. This would allow the company to focus more on its store operations.

As a result it looked to merge two contact centres into one, with the potential for more than 130 jobs at its offices in Windmill Business Park, off Kenn Road in Kenn, to be cut. A 90-day consultation began with staff at centres in Kenn and Hull.

At the time, Comet announced it was planning to cut 450 jobs across the company to secure the long-term viability of the business.

Following extensive research, bosses have now decided to close its centre in Hull and keep the North Somerset one open.

In Hull, 240 people will be made redundant and 40 will be transferred to different roles. It is understood staff numbers at the Kenn office, where 414 people are employed, will remain as they are.

A Comet spokesman added: “Following the proposal to move from two contact centres to one, Comet can confirm that having carried out extensive research the decision has been made to close the call centre in Hull and move the activity to our Clevedon base.”