Staff at a Stornoway call centre have been told their jobs are safe after it won an extended contract.
Workers were previously told they would finish in March but now redundancy notices are being withdrawn.
Consumer Advice Direct – an arm of the Citizens Advice Bureau – has now secured a renewal of a UK government contract to deliver the Consumer Advice Service telephone helpline.
Citizens Advice Scotland are contract managers on behalf of the Government’s Department of Business Innovation and Skills.
The Stornoway base handles hundreds of consumer calls from all over Scotland each day.
Regional development agency, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), invested more than £400,000 in the premises with the view that the company would expand in the future.
Redundancy letters were given to staff as the call centre was at the end of a four-year arrangement for the telephone helpline.
Andrew Bartlett, chief executive of CAD confirmed the jobs rescue in a letter to MP Angus MacNeil.
It follows meetings held between Citizens Advice Scotland, representatives of the local workforce and the Western Isles’ two parliamentary representatives.
Angus MacNeil said: “Having met with Unison and a staff representative from the call-handling centre in Stornoway, I know just how concerned staff were about their future. The announcement that the jobs are safe is certainly very welcome news.
Alasdair Allan MSP commented: “This is very positive news for the workforce and the wider island economy.
“The fact that CAD appear willing to keep this work in Stornoway is very positive.
“The Scottish Government remains very committed to these jobs being in Stornoway in the longer term too, and I know from speaking to Citizens Advice Scotland that this is their preference too.
“I have therefore asked Citizens Advice Scotland what more can be done to provide security for the workforce. These are issues I have also raised with HIE and with Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing.”