The CEO of a telemarketing company has offered to save the jobs of over 250 Carillion staff at its Sheffield call centre by taking on the staff and contracts of the troubled FM and construction company.

Anthony Hinchcliffe, CEO of Sheffield-based Ant Marketing, is confident that he can keep the company’s contracts within the city of Sheffield.

Carillion has gone into liquidation with debts of over £1bn and a £580m pension deficit. The company was left with just £28m in the bank.

20,000 workers at the company are set to lose their jobs, with hundreds of supply chain firms fearing bankruptcy.

Carillon’s clients in Sheffield included transport firm Arriva and utilities supplier Centrica.

“Because it’s gone into liquidation there’s not much time to try and hold that team together and retain those contracts in Sheffield,” said Hinchcliffe. “It’s not like an administration or receivership where they will try to sell the company as a going concern.

“I think this is a great solution for everybody. We can take on the staff on their existing contracts, take over the building and the IT. We could work on that very quickly.

“I don’t think this is a huge priority for them but it really is for the 250 Sheffield staff. I want to retain this award-winning team before it gets fragmented. There is a solution here. All is not lost.”