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Region's Top Contact Centres Crowned
GE Money and Parkdean Holidays are the toast of the North East contact centre industry after being named the region’s best for 2007.
GE Money, which is based at Cobalt Business Park in North Tyneside, and Parkdean Holidays, from Gosforth, scooped the top prizes at this year’s North East Contact Centre Awards.
The fifth annual awards ceremony, recognised as the industry Oscars, was held at Rainton Meadows Arena in Sunderland on 9 November. Over 500 guests attended the prestigious event to recognise the achievements of contact centre employees across the region.
Organised by Tyne and Wear Development Company in partnership with Sunderland City Council, a record number of entries were received again this year, reflecting the growing strength of the competition.
On the night, GE Money collected the prize for North East Contact Centre of the Year 2007 while Parkdean Holidays was awarded the title of Contact Centre of the Year 2007 under 100 seats.
A total of 10 awards were handed out on the night. The Customer Complaints Department of Northumbrian Water were named Contact Centre Dream Team and the Management Support Team at Churchill Insurance was recognised as the Recruitment Champions. The Performance Coaches from HMRC were the other winning team, walking away with the Best Practice in Skills Development prize.
Several individuals were also recognised for their contributions to the industry. More Than was well represented with Janet Marrs winning Customer Service Superstar and Susan Yusof the Sales Star Superstar award.
EDF Energy also had two individual winners in Andie Balcombe, who won Cultural Ambassador and Kevin Gatens, who was recognised as Outstanding Leader of the Year.
Jacqui Jeremiah from Northern Rock won the Contact Centre Professional of the Year prize.
Paul Buie, Manager of Tyne and Wear Development Company said: “We’re delighted to see two new winners of the main awards. Our contact centres are respected worldwide and the competition here is incredibly tough.”
Councillor Symonds, Leader of Sunderland City Council and Chair of Tyne and Wear Development Company said: “The region’s contact centres are among the best in the world and we’re proud to hold the awards here in Sunderland. Judging by the success of the awards, the industry is set to go from strength-to-strength.”
Just like the contact centre industry, the awards have quickly developed into a major force and preparations are already underway for 2008.
Sponsors of this year’s event included Tyne and Wear Development Company, Sunderland City Council, Newcastle City Council, ONE NorthEast, Kelly Services, North East Employer Coalition, CEM Event Management, Hays Contact Centres, North East Contact Centre Academy and Contact Centre Professional.
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