Member Article

Top North East company cultures celebrated

North East businesses with outstanding company cultures were celebrated at a packed awards ceremony on Monday.

Service Network’s Culture for Success Awards received a record number of applications from companies eager to demonstrate the vital role employees play in their success.

Entrants came from an array of sectors, but it was Barclays Contact Centre in Sunderland that scooped the top prize.

The judges saw the contact centre as an outstanding example of an international brand that has allowed employees to personalise its procedures and service offering for the benefit of its staff and customers.

Judges commented that Barclays was unlike a stereotypical call centre, as staff turnover is low, currently operating at a 98% retention rate.

The organisation is a large employer within the region and plays a part in the local community, raising £118,000 for local charities and groups this year, and has also helped to educate local school, youth groups and prisoners about financial management.

Christine Allenson, site president and head of customer service at Barclays Contact Centre,
Sunderland said: “Winning this award is true recognition for the fantastic job that our people do day in day out in delivering the best possible service for our customers.

“Having this recognition from an external perspective fills the whole team here in Sunderland with immense pride and will motivate every single colleague to continue to create that culture that makes us successful.”

Elsewhere, among the category winners recognised on the night, Calvert Trust Kielder won the small category as judges noted staff felt empowered to introduce new ideas, and each had extensive knowledge of the aims and objectives of the organisation.

Full service market research agency, Dipsticks Research, was awarded the medium category prize, as the judges were impressed by the company’s growth in an industry that is shrinking.

The winner in the large category was customer contact centre, e-commerce fulfilment and online retail organisation, Spark Response.

Spark were selected for their proactive management style and encouragement and rewarding of staff.

Highly commended entrants were Exclusive, BL Hairdressing and TH_NK.

Entrants were judged against four key criteria: staff development, customer service, business growth and contribution to the region.

Service Network introduced a Special Award this year, to recognise an organisation that has excelled in a particular area within their application.

BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art was selected in this category for their contribution to the region over the past 12 months, including the hosting of the Turner Prize.

Neil Warwick, Chair of Service Network said: “The Culture for Success Awards are about the people who make companies work.

“The Awards recognise the impact that motivated engaged employees have on customer service and ultimately profitability.

“The companies shortlisted have demonstrated the key ingredients required for a successful culture and we should be extremely proud to have them on our doorstep.”

Sponsors for this year’s Awards were CCS Mobile, Cintra HR & Payroll, Spacecraft Events, NCFE and Gateshead College.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .