Anxious wait to find out top call centre workers

Oct 27 2009 by Iain Laing, The Journal

THE finalists of the biggest awards in the region's growing contact centre industry have been named.

And with more than 61,000 people employed in 145 centres in the region, the names of the winners of the North East Contact Centre Awards are eagerly anticipated.

The seventh annual awards, organised by Tyne and Wear Development Company in association with Sunderland City Council, will hold finals next month at a masquerade ball-themed evening on Friday, November 6, at Rainton Meadows Arena, Sunderland.

Paul Buie, manager of Tyne and Wear Development Company, said: “The region’s contact centre industry makes a major contribution to the local economy each year and these awards are a great way to highlight and promote the success of the industry within the region.”

The awards aim to recognise and commend the achievements of the sector and its star performers. And a total of nine individual 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 categories 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. Coun Paul Watson, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “These awards go from strength to strength each year and present a magnificent opportunity to congratulate individuals and teams who have made the industry the success that it is today. “

The North East Contact Centre Awards sponsors include One North East, Infinity Contact Centre Solutions, Premium People Recruitment, Highbridge Business Park, Contact Centre Professional, North East Contact Centre Academy, Northern Recruitment Group and Goodman. The Journal and Call Centre Helper magazine are media partners for this year’s event.

For more information contact Sarah Gibson or Nicola Dale on (0191) 516- 9099 or enquiries@contactcentreawards.co.uk