31st Oct 2005 15:35
VERTEX ENTERS INTO STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL Vertex, the business process outsourcing arm of United Utilities PLC, hasentered into a strategic partnership with Hertfordshire County Council. Thefirst phase of this partnership is a 10-year, ‚£26 million contract for theprovision of customer management and business process re-engineering services.The aim of the strategic partnership is to transform public service deliveryand continually improve services for the resident and builds on Vertex's wellestablished presence in the public sector, which includes partnerships withThurrock Unitary Council, Westminster City Council and Birmingham City Council.Hertfordshire County Council provides services to more than one million peoplewho live, work and travel in the county.Vertex has taken on Hertfordshire County Council's existing customer servicecentre and the consumer direct service centre at Stevenage, with the aim ofimplementing a new customer relationship management system to enhance servicelevels.Around 100 employees will initially transfer from the Council's currentsupplier to Vertex's management.Chief Executive of United Utilities, John Roberts, said:"We are pleased to have entered into this strategic partnership withHertfordshire County Council, which will draw on our extensive experience oftransforming business processes for UK utilities and public sector clients.This deal represents a further expansion for Vertex in the public sector andbroadens its contract portfolio. The partnership builds on Vertex's solidpresence in the public sector and will help the company to capitalise onpotential future outsourcing opportunities in this market."United Utilities' Contacts:For further information please contact:John Roberts, Chief Executive +44 (0) 1925 237000 Simon Batey, Finance Director +44 (0) 1925 237000 Darren Jameson, Investor Relations Manager +44 (0) 1925 237033 Evelyn Brodie, Corporate and Financial Communications +44 (0) 20 7307 0309NotesVertex is a leading international provider of business process outsourcing andtechnology services and is one of the UK's major customer management servicesuppliers. The company develops and implements a range of outsourcing solutionsfor many leading organisations based on a diversified portfolio of long-termcontracts across private enterprise, financial services, utility, central andlocal government sectors. These include transformational outsourcing, combiningVertex's skills in consulting, technology and outsourced service provision tostimulate and facilitate business change and flexibility.ENDUNITED UTILITIES PLCRelated Shares:
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