Contractors who have transformed the former supermarket building in Swatar into HSBC UK's Malta Call Centre have been awarded bonuses, after they took up HSBC's challenge to finish the centre's refurbishment earlier than the original stipulated deadline.

Attard Brothers, Panta Contracting & Panta Marketing, Xuereb Installations and Titan International were presented bonuses by HSBC Bank Malta plc's CEO, Shaun Wallis.

"The rapid transformation of the disused ex-supermarket building into a fully-fledged and fully-operational call centre was remarkable. Progress was made on a daily basis and HSBC staff supervising the works were impressed by the rapid progress made from one week to another," said Mr Wallis.

"HSBC would sincerely like to thank the suppliers and contractors who fully understood the importance of our requirements in completing the project earlier than our original set deadline," he added.

The four main contractors completed refurbishment works two weeks in advance of the agreed project time. The extensive Swatar premises were transformed into a functional call centre in just 14 weeks.

The works included 35 kilometres of cable for IT, 1,500 m2 of soffit, and 1,800 m2 of raised floor tiling, installed by an average of 46 skilled personnel daily, including weekends. At times, skilled personnel at work during a day peaked to 77.

"With the Call Centre being so important to HSBC and Malta, in terms of satisfying HSBC UK expectations and also in terms of direct contribution to Malta's economy, we wanted to make sure that all was finished well within our original projections," said deputy head of Banking Services, Michel Cordina.

"Mission accomplished thanks to all involved," he said.

Contractors were to be charged penalties in the event that works were not completed on time.