Outsourcing gongs awarded in London

In what amounted to a coming out party for outsourcing, an inaugural set of awards last night saw user organisations as well as outsourcing service providers and other advisors rewarded for their efforts.

The National Outsourcing Association Awards - or NOAAs - saw banking group ABN-AMRO walk away with most successful offshoring operation. The Dutch company is now thought to be looking at offshoring some of its retail banking operations.

Another financial institution came out smiling as Paul Evans of Barclays Bank was deemed best outsourcing professional.

Best business process outsourcing (BPO) service provider was Capita, a UK success story with business in healthcare and other areas outside technology, well-known for running London's congestion charge scheme.

ClientLogic walked away with the best outsourcing service provider award.

Outsourcing and offshoring have proved emotive subjects in recent years in the UK and much of the world. However, the NOA said the event went well, calling it "a landmark in the acceptance of outsourcing as a legitimate business practice" and hoping it will lead to more respect and credibility for those involved in the practice.

Other awards on the night went to Westminster City Council/Vertex, for best BPO deal; Lichfield DC and Staffordshire-Moorlands DC working/ITNET, for best IT outsourcing deal; Magellan Consultancy Services, for best outsourcing advisor; and LogicaCMG for best outsourcing-specific marketing campaign.