Comcast’s Sky said it has created 1,000 new jobs throughout the UK — including 500 roles at a new customer contact centre in Leeds — to meet growing customer demand.

Sky said the new roles will see its UK and Ireland employee base grow to 25,000.

As part of the move, Sky will directly employ 500 new engineers to install Sky Q, Sky’s next generation TV platform, into thousands of customer’s homes.

In addition to the new engineers, Sky is also creating 500 new customer service roles at its new contact centre at No 1 Leeds in the city centre.

Over 1,000 people already work for Sky in Leeds, making it one of the city’s biggest employers.

The majority of Sky’s Leeds-based staff currently work on Sky’s digital and technical capability out of Sky@Leeds Dock – Sky’s tech hub that opened in the city in 2015.  

Last month, Sky also announced the creation of a new Sky Studios Innovation Hub based in Leeds.

Over the next five years Sky will more than double its investment in original content through Sky Studios. 

Stephen van Rooyen, CEO, UK & Ireland, Sky said: “Our customers love viewing all their favourite shows in one place with Sky Q, so it’s great that 500 new Sky engineers will be hitting the roads right across the UK this winter to meet growing customer demand.

“Together with our expanded team in Leeds, these 1,000 new employees are a real testament to Sky’s commitment to customer service and investment to create a diverse workforce right across the UK.”