THE cream of businesses and individuals which make up the £400m-a-year Welsh contact centre industry are poised to battle it out for the sector's annual high profile awards.

Wales' leading employees and employers will be vying for honours at the Welsh Contact Centre Awards 2005 which recognise the achievements of those working in an industry which employs some 24,000 people in Wales.

The rapid growth of the industry and its increased complexity has again forced organisers to add extra award categories this year.

Minister for Economic Development and Transport Andrew Davies said: "The contact centre industry in Wales is becoming an increasingly important and significant part of our economy. Employing some 24,000 people at centres operated by 130 companies in towns and cities across the country the £400m-a-year contact centre industry is a modern day success story for Wales. "The world in which the industry operates is among the most dynamic of sectors and I am delighted that the Welsh Contact Centre Forum continues to reflect this dynamism through it prestigious annual awards. "Wales has a contact centre industry of which it can be proud. The jobs, that have been created and continue to be created, matter. The industry matters to its people, to the communities in which they live and to the economy of Wales as a whole."

Sandra Busby, director of the Wales Contact Centre Forum Ltd, said: "We introduced some new categories this year to better reflect the dynamic industry in which so many skilled and talented people in Wales now work. "One of the new categories this time is Best use of Welsh sponsored by the Welsh Language Board and I am delighted to see that a contact centre in Bangor is one of the finalists."

People attending the prestigious event on February 2, 2006, will be treated to a Venetian style Masquerade Ball.

The finalists are: Support Person - Barrie James, Dwr Cymru Cardiff; David Green Black Horse Finance, Cardiff; Alun Davies, Conduit (118 Ltd.) Cardiff. Agent - Gaynor Hulland, BT Swansea; Laura Morgan, ING Direct, Cardiff; Karen England, Conduit (118 Ltd.) Cardiff.

Team leader/supervisor - Caroline Hagley, HSBC Bank, Swansea; Bev Jones, Lloyds TSB, Newport; Lisa Phillips, ING Direct, Cardiff. Manager under 100 staff - Clare Birch, PHS Group, Caerphilly; Michelle Dunn, Carcraft, Newport; Roger Evans, DVLA, Swansea.

Manager over 100 staff - Simon Morris, BT Broadband, Swansea; Karina Voisey, Logica CMG, Bridgend Karen Walters, Conduit (118 Ltd) Cardiff.

Recruitment practice - British Gas, Cardiff; ING Direct, Cardiff.

People development - Logica CMG Bridgend; Zurich Insurance, Cardiff; PHS Group, Caerphilly. Support team - British Gas, Cardiff; Lloyds TSB, Bridgend; Blackhorse Finance, Cardiff.

Customer Services - HBOS, Cardiff; Conduit (118 Ltd) Cardiff; The AA, Cardiff.

Best use of Welsh - Consumer Direct, Cardiff; Dwr Cymru, Cardiff and BT, Bangor.