Press release Cheshire - North West Call and Contact Centre Awards

17th October 2008

For Cheshire based publications a review of the winners of the 2008 North West Call and Contact Centre Awards.

For immediate release
Cheshire centres dominate North West Awards
The winners of the 3rd Annual North West Call and Contact Centre Awards were revealed on the 16th October at the Crowne Plaza Liverpool.

After beating hundreds of entries from across the region, over 360 staff and supporters from the 29 organisations that made it through to the finalist stage, gathered for the glittering presentation. Hosted by TV’s Jason Wood and organised by the University of Central Lancashire’s, CallNorthWest, the organisation responsible for supporting the call and contact centre sector in the region.

Tom Kirby, Director of CallNorthWest says “This year’s awards received an overwhelming response, each and every winner is a wonderful example of how call and contact centres are achieving excellence and we are delighted to be able to recognise everyone’s hard work and dedication. They should all feel very proud of their achievements.”

There were 16 winners, with top honours going to Cheshire Constabulary walking off with 2 gongs for Best Recruitment Campaign and Overall Contact Centre of the Year in the public sector category.
Described by the judges as “passionate about delivering an excellent service to the local community through the people they employ” these awards are tantamount to the constabulary’s commitment to the community it serves.
Warrington based company Vodafone also scooped 2 awards for Private Sector Contact Centre of the Year and an individual award for Steven Johnson who picked up Team Leader of the Year, achieving top marks the only entrant to do so.

Not to be out done Anne Barrowclough from Crewe based Air Products carried off the award for Contact Centre Manager of the Year.

Cheshire was also represented amongst the winners by Carole Nash scooping Best Induction Training Programme.

Call and Contact Centres are important to the economic prosperity of the region employing 4.8% of the North West workforce (149,175). This makes the North West of England the centre of excellence for Customer Management.

ENDS

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Cheshire Constabulary Team
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Vodafone team

The North West Call Contact Centre Awards
Now in their 3rd successful year, the North West Call and Contact Centre Awards highlight and reward ‘Excellence’ in North West Call and Contact Centres.

For further information, photographs and interviews please contact:

CallNorthWest – Alison Hitchen 01772 229853 ahitchen1@uclan.ac.uk
To find out more about CallNorthWest, visit www.callnorthwest.org.uk

About CallNorthWest

Since 2003, CallNorthWest has been actively working with the North West call and contact centre sector, striving to support the critical success factors that drive the sector to achieve excellence. Through the support of the North West Development Agency and hosted by the University of Central Lancashire, CallNorthWest is ensuring that the North West remains a sustainable location for call and contact centres.

The winners are:

Individual Awards

Agent of the Year
Eileen Duffy, O2

Team Leader of the Year
Steven Johnson, Vodafone

Trainer/Coach of the Year
Anthony Mellor, HMRC

Support Person of the Year
Christelle Philips, Glen Dimplex Home Appliances

Contact Centre Manager of the Year (under 50 seats)
Anne Barrowclough, Air Products PLC

Contact Centre Manager of the Year (over 50 seats)
Sue Sixsmith, Vertex


Company Awards

Best Use of Technology
Lancashire Constabulary

Best Induction Training Programme
Carole Nash

Team of the Year (under 25 team members)
Merseytravel

Contact Centre (under 50 seats)
Liverpool Housing Trust

Contact Centre (over 50 seats) Private Sector
Vodafone

Contact Centre (over 50 seats) Public Sector
Cheshire Police

Best Recruitment Campaign
Cheshire Police

Business in the Community Award
O2

Most Effective Service Transformation Project
Lancashire Constabulary