Press release National - North West Call and Contact Centre Awards

17th October 2008

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

For immediate release
Winners Announced - The 3rd Annual North West Call and Contact Centre 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.”

Vodafone 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.

O2 was awarded top honours in the Best Business in the Community category Fiona Kinder, Customer Service Manager for Blackpool Pleasure Beach and member of the judging panel said “there was a real sense of pride at O2 that was quite moving, everyone was empowered to engage in activities for causes close to their hearts, it was clear that everyone was having a lot of fun!”

O2 made it oh 2 when Eileen Duffy triumphed in the Agent of the Year Category. A working mum who has been with O2 for 7 years was described as “little Miss Sunshine” by the judges.

Liverpool Housing Trust was awarded top honours in the Contact Centre of the Year under 50 seats category, Tom Kirby, Director of organisers CallNorthWest and a judge on the panel commented “It was clear to see the passion for customers, colleagues and employees, it was not just a job, they are making a real difference to peoples lives, their enthusiasm is electric”.

In their first year of entering the awards, Merseytravel scooped the coveted Team of the Year award. Described by the judges as “inspirational, a high performing team with great passion and belief displayed in all they do“.

Glen Dimplex were especially proud of support worker Christelle Philips after she was presented with the award for Support Person of the Year for the second year in succession, the first time an individual has achieved such a feat.

Giants Vertex were delighted when Sue Sixsmith triumphed as Contact Centre Manager of the Year in the over 50 seats category.

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

Note to editors:
A selection of photographs are attached further photographs available on request.
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Jason Goodyear (first from left) from Qualifi presents Vodafone with the Contact Centre of the Year (over 50 seats) award
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Liz Allman, HBOS (shown on the right) presents Eileen Duffy (shown on the left) from O2 with the award for Agent of the Year.

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Liverpool Housing Trust celebrate winning Contact Centre of the Year (under 50 seats)

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Merseytravel celebrate winning Team of the Year.
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Presented by Steve Calderbank, Rethinking Consulting to Sue Sixsmith, Vertex
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, Bury

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, Bury

Most Effective Service Transformation Project
Lancashire Constabulary