North East Contact Centre Awards 2026 open for Individual Stars nominations
Celebrating the people who make the North East contact centre community exceptional
Every great customer experience starts with great people — and the search is now on to recognise the individuals making a real difference across the North East contact centre industry.
The North East Contact Centre Awards (NECCA) 2026 are officially open for entries, with the Individual Stars category shining a spotlight on the talented people who go above and beyond every day.
From customer service colleagues delivering outstanding support, to inspirational leaders, team managers, resource planners, quality specialists and the people who keep teams moving behind the scenes, these awards celebrate the individuals whose dedication, passion and expertise help create exceptional customer experiences.
Last year’s Individual Stars winners showcased the incredible talent across the region. Congratulations once again to:
- Sam Wright, Atom Bank – Customer Service Star
- Rhyss Emerson, The AA – Resource Planning Star
- Lauren Gascogine, Worldpay – Quality Manager of the Year
- Callum Mullen, PDSA – Support Star
- Brendan Garvin, Citizens Advice Gateshead – Contact Centre Industry Newcomer
- Steven Pack, toob – Contact Centre Manager of the Year
- Denise Straughan, Markerstudy – Service & Support Team Leader
- Kiron Malik, EE, part of BT Group – Sales & Retention Team Leader
- Laura Scott, Dialect Communications – Inspirational Leader
Each winner demonstrated the qualities at the heart of NECCA: leading with care, supporting colleagues, improving performance, staying calm under pressure and making a meaningful impact for customers and communities.
Now it’s time to celebrate the next group of Individual Stars.
The 2026 nomination window is open, giving organisations across the North East the opportunity to recognise the people who deserve to be celebrated.
Whether they are a rising star making their mark, a trusted team leader, a problem-solver everyone relies on, a quality champion driving improvement or a leader inspiring those around them, this is your chance to share their story.
Nominees can be entered across the Individual Stars categories, and the nomination process has been designed to make submissions simple. You can save your progress and return at any time, giving you the flexibility to gather examples, achievements and evidence that demonstrate their impact.
Nominations close on Friday 24 July at 5pm.
Start your nomination today and help recognise the people who make the North East contact centre community outstanding by Clicking Here
The North East Contact Centre Awards is the region’s leading awards programme dedicated to recognising the achievements of individuals, teams and organisations across the contact centre industry. For over two decades, NECCA has celebrated the people driving customer experience, operational performance and innovation across the North East.
