arvato UK & Ireland’s partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council (CBC) has been recognised as the Public Sector Outsourcing Project of the Year at the 2011 National Outsourcing Association Awards.

The ten year partnership was commended for delivering outstanding results in the first twelve months of operation, including improving collection rates, modernising HR, payroll and ICT practices, and increasing the speed of resolving customer enquiries.

arvato’s partnership with CBC covers a wide range of services including ICT, customer services, human resources, revenues, benefits, payroll, accounts payable and invoice processing, as well as engineering and facilities maintenance and asset management through Kier. arvato aims to deliver more than £4 million in cost savings over the course of the agreement and invest £1.7 million to further develop technology and infrastructure for the authority.

"Our partnership with arvato is already benefitting our employees and citizens across Chesterfield, and we’re delighted that this has been highlighted as best practice by the National Outsourcing Association," said Cllr John Burrows, Leader, Chesterfield Borough Council. “We’re looking forward to continuing to develop best practice together with arvato, and our joint future success.”

“We were up against some tough competition in this category, so we’re particularly proud that arvato’s approach to public-private partnerships has been recognised on a national level,” said Rainer Majcen, Managing Director, Public Sector, arvato UK & Ireland. “This award is a real testament to our concept of a collaborative and flexible approach to client relationships, and our commitment to deliver results.”

As well as winning the top public sector award at the ceremony at the Park Plaza Riverbank in London (10th November 2011), arvato’s partnership with Microsoft was a finalist in the BPO Contract of the Year category, and arvato was shortlisted for Outsourcing Contact Centre Provider of the Year and Outsourcing Provider of the Year category.

arvato was also confirmed as a finalist at the National Business Awards earlier this week in the Business Enabler of the Year category.