North East contact centres encouraged to enter awards
Businesses and individuals in one of the North East’s strongest sectors are poised to do battle for the industry’s ‘Oscar’ awards.
Contact centres in the region are being encouraged to enter the 2009 North East Contact Centre Awards.
Entries for the awards, which are organised by Tyne and Wear Development Company in association with Sunderland City Council, can be made by visiting www.contactcentreawards.co.uk. The closing date for completed applications is Friday September 4.
Those centres looking to get a head-start can take part in a master-class on how to produce a successful application at the Evolve Centre, Sunderland on 1 July or the Village Hotel, North Tyneside, on 2 July. Both events begin at 8.30am. Details of how to book a place on either workshop can be found on the award’s website.
The contact centre industry employs over 61,000 people in more than 145 centres region-wide and the awards aim to recognise the achievements of the sector and its star performers. The theme of this year’s event is ‘Unveiling the Region’s Talent.’
Paul Buie
Paul Buie, manager of Tyne and Wear Development Company, said: “The region has a contact centre industry which it can be proud of with businesses making a major contribution to the area both in terms of jobs and investment. These awards go from strength to strength every year and are an opportunity to highlight achievements and raise the profile of the sector as an attractive career option.”
Cllr. Paul Watson, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “The contact centre industry remains one of the most buoyant and productive parts of the regional economy and these awards are a magnificent way to celebrate the achievement of individuals and teams who have made the industry the success it is.
“Sunderland City Council is totally committed to helping contact centres build on this success by providing continuous support for companies that wish to grow and re-invest.”
Nine awards are up for grabs, including the prestigious North East Contact Centre of the Year 2009 – which has separate categories for those centres above and below 250 seats. Other awards are Customer Experience Superstar, Contact Centre Adviser of the Year, Best People Developer, Team Leader of the Year, Contact Centre Team of the Year and Outstanding Contribution to the Community.
To recognise the ever-evolving nature of the industry a new award has been introduced for the Contact Centre Technical Adviser of the Year. This reflects the increasing number of companies offering service desk support – particularly in IT – within the region.
Last year’s big winners were CE Electric, Northumbrian Water and EDF Energy, who won the main awards for North East Contact Centre of the Year under 50 seats, under 200 seats and over 200 seats, respectively.
The winners and runners up of the 2009 awards will be unveiled at a glittering awards ceremony on Friday 6 November at Rainton Meadows Arena in Sunderland. Award sponsors include Sunderland City Council, One North East, Infinity Contact Centre Solutions, Premium People Recruitment, North East Contact Centre Academy, Contact Centre Professional, Northern Recruitment Group and Goodman. Call Centre Helper magazine has also been confirmed as a media partner for this year’s event.
