UP to 500 jobs will be created in Worcester with the opening of Britain's first internet-enabled customer contact centre.

Experian, a leading global provider of business-process outsourcing, has opened its state-of-the-art call centre in Kings Court, Newtown Road.

The new customer contact centre will create up to 500 jobs in Worcester and will meet the needs of Experian's rapidly expanding outsourcing business. Already 200 people are employed there.

Clients include leading blue chip companies across many industry sectors.

The new Internet Protocol Customer Contact (IPCC) technology is the result of a strategic partnership with Cable and Wireless and Cisco Systems and will provide a blueprint for future call centres.

"IPCC delivers a much faster and more manageable customer contact solution, reducing call waiting times and providing more effective and accurate management reporting information," said David Riley, managing director of Experian's customer contact division.

The fully computerised, paperless centre provides many services, including billing, data management, credit application processing, letter and statement printing, mailing, data capture, document imaging and remittance processing.

"For us, this is the latest in an investment programme over the last three years representing more than £80m across our network of operations," added Mr Riley.

"Even the largest of organisations would find it difficult to justify such a large single investment in contact technology. Our continuing investment offers our clients technology leadership, without the risk, for years to come."