Contact centres in Gwent could save the economy millions by supporting staff to sign up to Stoptober and quit smoking, according to the Welsh Contact Centre Forum.

With the 28 day national stop smoking challenge in full swing, it has been estimated that employee sickness absences related to smoking costs contact centres in Wales £1.6m every year.

The contact centre industry has thrived in Newport over the past decade and now employs 30,000 people in more than 100 centres across Wales, pumping £650m into the Welsh economy each year.

It is estimated around 9,000 of the contact centre workforce are smokers.

With a smoker spending on average £1,752 per year on the habit, the cost of the habit to the smokers in Welsh contact centres stands at well over £15m collaboratively.

Furthermore, according to Total Jobs, the average across all salaries in contact centres, from front-line staff to first line management, is £19,000 - meaning almost 10 per cent of a smoking call centre worker’s wage is spent on cigarettes.

As well as the financial impact smoking has on contact centre staff, the Welsh Contact Centre Forum has also warned of the health effects that can impair employees’ ability to perform their job.

Sandra Busby, managing director, Welsh Contact Centre Forum, said: “In the contact centre industry, an employees’ voice is a crucial tool, used throughout the day to perform key tasks. Habits such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are recognised to affect vocal performance, while smoking can also increase the risk of developing illnesses such as chest infections and sore throats which all impair vocal sound and can result in sickness absence. We’re very understanding that smoking is a terrible addiction, and quitting can be on your own hard. That’s why we’re behind ‘Stoptober’ as quitting as part of a group provides much-needed support.”

The Welsh Contact Centre Forum is calling on future ex-smokers across Wales’ contact centres to join forces to take part in the collective quit attempt this month.

The national stop smoking challenge is based on research that shows people who manage to kick the habit for 28 days are five times more likely to quit smoking for good.

To sign up for the Stoptober challenge and receive a free starter pack, visit: http://www.stopsmokingwales.com/stoptober-4.