Southwark and Vangent win European Call Centre Award for Best Outsourcing Partnership

London, September 27, 2007 - The London Borough of Southwark and the leading business transformation company Vangent today announced that they have been named winners of the prestigious European Call Centre Awards ‘Best Outsourcing Partnership’.
The award recognises the achievements that have been created within a joint working environment, and truly living and breathing each others brands and values. The judges picked Vangent and Southwark Council as the winners for working seamlessly together to achieve a previously unimaginable quality of service.

From hundreds of entries, Vangent and Southwark were 1 of 7 shortlisted organisations from this, the only public sector partnership. “Contact Centre Focus would like to congratulate Vangent and Southwark Council on its win in the best outsourcing partnership category of the European Call Centre Awards 2007. The balanced partnership between Vangent and Southwark Council means the local community receives a service of genuine value and quality.”

Cllr. Nick Stanton, Leader of Southwark Council, said; - “I am delighted that the partnership between Southwark Council and Vangent Ltd has been recognised with this prestigious European Call Centre Industry award. The success of our partnership has been built on a shared understanding of the needs of Southwark residents. I am further delighted that we are the first Local Authority in partnership with a private sector organisation to be recognised in this way”.

Stephen Meyler, Managing Director Vangent Ltd, commented “It’s pleasing to receive this award, which is another reminder of how effective partnerships between the private and public sector can deliver meaningful outcomes for the customers we serve. The Customer Service Centre has rapidly evolved to become one of the most innovative and transformational customer service solutions in the UK, underpinned by a culture that places the customer at the heart of everything we do.”

About Vangent Ltd

As part of a 5,500-employee worldwide organisation, Vangent Ltd. is a premier provider of Management Consulting, Systems Integration, Human Capital Management and Business Process Outsourcing services to government and commercial clients. Vangent clients include the London Borough of Southwark, UK management consulting entities, telecommunication providers and numerous international government agencies in healthcare, education, justice, labour and personnel management.

Headquartered in London, Vangent Ltd. has associated companies in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Venezuela and Argentina. Additional information can be found at: www.vangent.co.uk.

About Southwark Council

Southwark is one of the busiest and most demanding metropolitan authorities in the country. It is a borough of tremendous opportunity, situated as it is with its northern boundaries opposite the prosperity of the Cities of London and Westminster. But it also has all the challenges and interest of an inner city area; low incomes, high state dependency and complex social problems.

Southwark is undergoing one of the most ambitious social and physical regeneration programme of any authority in the country, together with a wide range of initiatives aimed at improving educational standards, reducing crime and improving health, housing and the environment.

The customer service centre handles around 200,000 contacts per month from residents with enquiries spanning over 200 individual Council services.