Talking Tayside finalists announced

Three expert judges travelled across Tayside to meet the contact centre personnel, teams and companies who have made it to the finals of the Talking Tayside Awards 2012.

“Having interviewed the finalists in the ten categories, the judges – Jim Mason of Scottish Development International, Joanne Seagrave of Call Centre Association and Rose-marie Stewart of Skills Development Scotland – now have an extremely difficult task in front of them,” said Victoria Rawnsley, Chair of Talking Tayside, the private/public partnership established by Dundee City Council to develop and promote Tayside’s contact centre industry.

Following the final stage of judging, the winners will be announced on November 16 at the Talking Tayside Awards 2012, which are being held at West Park Centre, Dundee. This event will be the culmination of Talking Tayside Contact Centre Week, which runs from November 12-16 and includes best practice events, school visits and careers days.

“The Talking Tayside Awards are an excellent way to finish Contact Centre Week,” said Victoria. “These awards highlight the excellent, often highly innovative services being provided by contact centres across Dundee, Perth and Angus, boosting further the reputation of our local contact centre industry and, as a result, encouraging more companies to establish contact centres in this part of Scotland.”

“Over 7,000 people are currently employed in the local contact centre industry, with high profile public and private sector contact centres being based in Tayside.  The Talking Tayside Awards are a chance to celebrate an industry which is one of Tayside’s success stories.”

The Finalists

Contact Centre Agent of the Year

Steven Laird – BT Business Repair, Steven Coombs – BT Business Repair, Harry Adams – SSE.

Operations Manager of the Year

Brian Williamson – Aviva, Graeme Stewart – Jobcentre Plus.

Support Professional of the Year

Lesley Buchan – Aviva, Janine Ellis – Aviva, Leah Rendall – Jobcentre Plus.

Contact Centre Community Award

BT, Jobcentre Plus.

Best Newcomer Agent of the Year

Jill Lawson – Aviva, Jill Nicoll – Jobcentre Plus, Jacquie Croll – SSE.

Best Contact Centre Team Leader / Manager of the Year

Ainsley Wands – BT, Kim Brady – Jobcentre Plus, Gill Costello – SSE.

Best Contact Centre Training Award

Dundee College.

Team of the Year Award

Performance and Resource Team – Aviva,  Top 500 Team – BT, Command 21 – Jobcentre Plus, Welcome Line (Inbound Sales) – SSE.

Company Culture Award

Jobcentre Plus, SSE.

Contact Centre of the Year

Aviva, BT, Jobcentre Plus, SSE.

Good luck to all the finalists!