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Parseq

Kura

Kura becomes ‘largest independent outsourcer in the UK’

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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Kura has announced the acquisition of Parseq Limited’s contact centre division and Stellar UK Limited and in doing so says it has become the UK’s largest independent Outsourcer, employing around 3,000 people and with sales of £75m.

These deals follow quickly on the heels of the announcement of a Joint Venture with Trident Investments based in Durban, South Africa, which currently services clients in both the UK and Australia and will be called Kura South Africa. It employs around 100 people and will invest significantly in both people and technology.

In terms of the Parseq and Stellar deals, Kura has acquired 3 additional contact centres in Sunderland, Hellaby & Glasgow and now operates from a total of 7 locations across the UK – which together with its offshore location and in combination with its software business Inisoft will provide services and solutions to over 50 clients across many industry verticals.

Brian Bannatyne, Kura CEO, commented “We are delighted to welcome all of the people in the Parseq & Stellar businesses to Kura. We are working hard to deliver our Vision of being Unrivalled in Developing People and our new employees will have a big part to play in this.

“There will be many positive changes across the business in the months and years ahead to bring this Vision to life. With these acquisitions we have significantly increased our scale and capability whilst still retaining the close relationships, flexibility and innovation that our clients need. We will now be focused on integrating everyone into the Kura culture.”

Survey sparks a row at Sunderland call centre

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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Results of a survey by the GMB, the union for call centre workers, has created unrest between the bosses at a Sunderland call centre and union officials.

The survey, carried out by staff at Parseq call centre, Doxford Park, showed that 88% of the staff did not think it was a good place to work. Other answers revealed that staff thought training was inadequate, that they did not feel valued and would not recommend the centre to a friend or relative.

Management of the centre described the survey as “politically motivated” and contradicted its own research.

Discussing the survey, GMB’s regional organiser Chris Preston organiser said: “For any employer to have 88% of its staff in a survey saying where they worked was not a good place to be, and 86% saying they would not recommend working at Parseq to a friend or family member, suggests things inside their Doxford call centre are a cause of serious concern.

“Back in May, GMB warned that the working environment within Parseq was so unpleasant that for fear of reprisals GMB Union members are having to operate in secret, like some sort of North East Underground Resistance.

“Sadly, this new survey confirms just that and comes as no surprise.”

Graham Stein, managing director of Parseq, refuted the survey and said that similar surveys carried out by the company showed different results.

“Parseq conducts statistically robust, anonymous, research among its call-centre staff every year. In this year’s survey more than 1,000 employees have provided a view of the company that is entirely opposed to the GMB’s findings,” Stein said.

“Eighty seven per cent of our employees are committed to their role, 78% feel valued, 76% would recommend Parseq as an employer to their friends and family and 79% are happy with training and on the job support,” Stein concluded.

Parseq clients include finical bodies, banks, energy companies and councils. The centre currently employs over 1,000 members of staff.