Basic salary and bonuses are the most important factors when taking a call centre job, according to a survey by Rise Group.

The research found that factors such as the availability of dining facilities didn’t rate particularly highly, if only because most workers expect to find a staff canteen, but more worryingly, benefits such as pension provision didn’t rate much higher.

Much more important is the working environment - factors including furniture, lighting, noise levels and space between desks. Scottish and Newcastle and O2 are among firms which believe in giving workers plenty of personal space.

The research found that workers are also in career development and in developing new skills within the workplace - most obviously in IT-related disciplines.

Rise HR Advisor Graeme Smith says: “Employers should consider the way they structure teams in their contact centres and design them to encourage career development opportunities.”

The study found that making friends is important too, while the concept of a fun atmosphere was also important.