UP to 100 jobs could be created at the Hampshire headquarters of a claims management business.

Quindell Portfolio Plc is looking to employ 50 new people at its base near Fareham in the next few months, with more positions expected to be created over the following months.

Recruitment is already under way for the first wave of jobs, which are a mixture of full and part-time positions. The roles are mainly for claims recovery handlers.

But the company expects to increase its numbers “significantly more” again during the next year.

This increase in staff is off the back of a number of new contracts.

Quindell provides technology-driven outsourcing mainly in the insurance industry, but also the telecoms industry.

It handles claims for insurers but also deals with the whole process after an accident such as repairs to the car, car hire, rehabilitation and personal injury claims, handling around 100,000 claims per year.

It also provides software to insurance companies.

Quindell already employs around 300 people at its offices in Barnes Wallis Road, Segensworth, and more than 2,500 across the world.

The group recently agreed a five-year contract with the RAC, a contract with one of the UK’s largest insurance brokers worth up to £100m per year and a £20m contract with one of UK’s largest direct insurers.

The company has also won contracts with one of the UK’s largest accident management conmpanies, and new contracts with Honda and Renault UK.

Michelle Arman, human resources manager of Quindell’s Services Division, said: “We are delighted to announce further job opportunities in Fareham to support the growing demand for our insurance services offering.”

It is the latest in a string of new jobs announced for the area in recent months.

Only last week the Daily Echo told how more than 100 new jobs are being created after Lockheed Martin UK in Whiteley secured deals worth nearly £300m in the past few weeks, including a £125m contract to supply IT services for the Ministry of Justice.

Another 70 jobs came about through a merger of Whiteley’s Premier Telecom and Business Phones Direct to become OneCom.

More than 1,000 positions were created with the opening of the new Whiteley Shopping Centre in May.

Reacting to the latest employment news, executive leader of Fareham Borough Council, Councillor Seán Woodward said that the extra staff would be “adding to the prosperity of the local economy”.