SAGA, the holiday and financial services group for the over-50s, is creating 750 jobs in east Kent. The Folkestone-based company is opening a £15 million call centre at EuroKent Business Park in Ramsgate. The group is also creating new jobs at its headquarters in Sandgate.

The move had been anticipated for several months but a final decision was put on hold after the terrorist atrocity on September 11.

The firm wanted to assess whether the global economic impact would seriously affect its plans. But the company calculated that while there might be a downturn in its tourism business, there would be no long-term effects on its growing financial service activities.

The decision is a major boost for a deprived area and follows intensive lobbying by Thanet council, developer Rosefarm Estates, and Locate in Kent, the agency that promotes the county as a great place to do business.

Saga’s decision was sweetened by the promise of £1.5 million in Government aid over three years and underlines Kent’s growing appeal for call centre operations. There are now 50 in the county employing more than 6,000 people.

Roger de Haan, chairman of Saga Group, said the investment demonstrated the company’s commitment to east Kent and came at the end of a comprehensive search for the best location.