THE shortlist for an annual awards scheme to commend the region’s thriving contact centre industry has been revealed.

The North-East Contact Centre Awards are being held next month, and will highlight the achievements of the industry, which employs more than 61,000 people in about 145 centres across the region.

Staff from the following firms have been shortlisted: Churchill Insurance, Department of Work and Pensions, EDF Energy, EDS, Fusion, CE Electric, JML, More Than, BT, Eaga Plc, Orange, Sunderland City Council, Barclaycard, HMRC, Gentoo and Capita Hartshead. The awards, organised by Tyne and Wear Development Company in association with Sunderland City Council, are being presented at Rainton Meadows Arena, Wearside, on November 6.