A Newport contact centre and employee were honoured at the recent Welsh Contact Centre Awards, which was hosted by ‘Chatty Man’ television star Alan Carr.

Celtic Springs Business Park-based MOJ Shared Services took home the Best Shared Service Initiative Award and Gemma Jones, from Wales and West Utilities, which is based on the same business park, was awarded Best Customer Service Representative as an acknowledgement for their contribution to Welsh contact centre industry.

Stephanie O'Leary, Home Office Customer Contact Services Manager, MOJ Shared Services, said: “We’re extremely proud of winning Best Shared Service Initiative it's testament to the hard work and the collaborative approach we have taken when working with our customers".

Gemma Jones, from Wales and West Utilities, said: “It’s an absolute honour to be awarded Best Customer Service Representative. It’s the highlight of my career so far.’’

The event, organised by the Welsh Contact Centre Forum, rewarded winners and highly commended in 16 categories, with Virgin Media, Barclays Home Solutions Direct and Deloitte scooping top awards for Small, Medium and Large Contact Centre of the Year.

The Welsh Contact Centre Awards, which have been running for 16 years, celebrate the excellence of an industry that employs 30,000 people and contributes around £600m a year into the Welsh economy.

Sandra Busby, managing director of the Welsh Contact Centre Forum, said: “The contact centre industry contributes a huge amount to Wales’ economy, and it is really important that its excellent work continues to be recognised."