Call centres with conscience...

Call centres have gained a bit of a bad reputation over the past few years. From cheesy music when on hold for what seems an age, untrained or rude call handlers, silent marketing calls and automated call handling that you never manage to get the hang of, to the biggest gripe amongst UK users - offshore call centres, and the associated problems (which I won't go into now!)

All things considered, altruism isn't the first thing that pops into your head when you think "call centre". So it is heartwarming to read about ways in which this industry does give something back to the community. Sports Relief, for example, is asking call centres to volunteer their time and resources to handle their telephone campaign during this year's TV show (Friday 19th March). In 2008, over 70 call centres across the country helped raise £28m for UK and International Projects. This year, Sports Relief are looking for call centres who are willing to commit to offering at least seventy staffed lines for the night (from 7pm-2am). It seems likely that the call centres will step up again this year, after the phenomenal success of last year.

I have also read in Call Centre Focus that social enterprise has hit the industry, with the launch of a new £1m call centre business, Call Brittania. Founded by Karen Derby, it aims to open ten UK call centres in the next 7 years, creating 10,000 jobs for the unemployed in some of the country's worst economic areas - as well as offering them training, skills and work experience. Karen says, "We're passionately committed to providing sustainable work opportunities for those who need it most," and I'm sure I am not alone in wishing the venture huge success for 2010 and beyond.

And so, whilst the UK has been hit by the crippling recession, and ensuing redundancies, perhaps there has been at least some small rays of sunshine to come out of it. Social enterprise - businesses with a conscience - have been growing steadily, with new ones being formed all the time. The New Year Honours list this year included several awards for social entrepreneurs, including an OBE for Nigel Kershaw, CEO of Big Issue Invest, finally recognising the contribution social enterprises make to the wider community as well as the economy. Let's hope this trend continues, and with call centres well placed to offer support to social enterprise, and showing willing to, perhaps they will gain a new reputation. We can only hope.