News: Parseq kicks off 2024 with double appointment

Rotherham-based business services and IT provider Parseq has expanded its senior leadership and account management teams with two new hires.

Keith Wright has been appointed as Group Operations Director, bringing with him 35 years of operational experience in document management and business process outsourcing (BPO).

He joins from business services provider Paragon Customer Communications, where he was Director of Operations. At Parseq, he will oversee the day-to-day delivery of Parseq’s full range of digital back office, finance and accounting, payment, secure print and warehousing and e-fulfilment services across its five UK offices and its sites in Bulgaria.

Meanwhile, Emma Fulker joins Parseq as a Senior Account Director, bringing 25 years’ experience in account and relationship management from global business services provider Communisis.

In her new role, she will be responsible for leading several key accounts and overseeing secure print solutions across Parseq’s client portfolio. Keith and Emma’s appointments follow recent business and team growth for Parseq.

In January 2023, the company acquired secure print and payment solutions specialist TALL Group and merged with Column Software Solutions, an IT services specialist. This strategic move positioned Parseq as one of the UK's largest independent providers of business services and IT solutions and expanded its service offering.

Subsequently, Parseq significantly expanded its sales team in July 2023, appointing new directors to help build on this momentum.

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Keith Wright, Group Operations Director, Parseq said: "Parseq stood out to me as not only a solid service provider with an enviable reputation in its key markets, but crucially as a people-focused business.

“It is committed to building lasting partnerships with its clients, and prides itself on championing its employees’ development – something that shines through in the commitment, skill and experience of its team and the results it delivers.

“This is a particularly exciting time to be joining the business, and I’m looking forward to bringing my experience to bear in helping deliver even more flexible, scaleable and technology-driven solutions that anticipate and meet clients’ ever-evolving needs.”

Craig Naylor-Smith, CEO, Parseq said: “After more than doubling in size last year, we have an ambitious strategy to leverage our broader product range, and deeper pools of insight to add new value to our clients.

“We're excited to have Keith and Emma join us on this journey. Their experience and expertise will be incredibly valuable as we look ahead to 2024 and our next stage of growth.”

Parseq, headquartered in Hellaby, is one of the largest independent business services and IT providers in the UK, with a global client base spanning FTSE 100 financial services companies, major utility providers, leading telecoms operators, manufacturers and local authorities.

Every year, it processes £36 billion of payments, digitises 70 million documents, prints 117 million secure documents and has delivered over 220 IT implementation projects globally.

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News: Rotherham-based Parseq grows through acquisition

Rotherham-based business process outsourcer Parseq has announced the acquisition of the TALL Group, a UK leader in the provision of secure print and payment solutions.

Based at Hellaby, Parseq is a trusted business services partner, with a global client base including leading telecoms operators, major utility providers and FTSE 100 financial services companies.

The TALL Group’s secure document and payment processing solutions will be incorporated into Parseq’s own established systems, allowing clients to benefit from the operational synergies and economies of scale offered by the integration.

The acquisition establishes Parseq as one of the largest independent providers of specialist document and payment processing services in the UK, increasing its headcount to more than 520 staff based in 12 offices across the UK, Bulgaria and India. The TALL Group’s secure document and payment processing solutions will be incorporated into Parseq’s own established systems, allowing clients to benefit from the operational synergies and economies of scale offered by the integration.

The TALL Group will be transferring across to Parseq in its entirety, including TALL Security Print, Checkprint and DLRT which combine to form the TALL Group of Companies. It operates from three sites in Runcorn, Hinckley and Lisburn, Northern Ireland, and counts major UK banks and blue-chip companies among its clients. These will be incorporated into Parseq’s existing global client base including leading telecoms operators, major utility providers and FTSE 100 financial services companies.

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The TALL Group’s managing director, Martin Ruda, will work with Parseq’s CEO, Craig Naylor-Smith to help set a strategy for the combined business. Parseq is a portfolio company of Parabellum Investments, a family office operating as a global private equity firm. Led by founder and CEO Rami Cassis, Parabellum Investments is a hands-on, highly active investor. It uses its own capital to grow companies both organically and through acquisition, leveraging its principal’s first-hand management experience and pan-sector track record.

Craig Naylor-Smith, CEO, Parseq, said: “This is an important milestone for our business. Bringing the TALL Group into the fold will give us the offering we need to continue our international expansion and deepen the existing relationships we have with some of the biggest businesses in the UK. The acquisition of the TALL Group, together with other exciting opportunities in the pipeline, means we are entering 2023 on a very firm footing for further growth.”

Martin Ruda, Managing Director, the TALL Group, added: “We have worked in partnership with Parseq many times, and offer complimentary, technology-led services, which makes us joining forces a natural evolution of our relationship that will make it easier to accelerate growth and expand the services we offer as a part of a bigger organisation. We also share the same vision and values and are committed to helping our clients run more efficient, secure businesses, all to the ultimate benefit of their customers.”

The TALL Group directors William Lamb and Peter Andrew are retiring after more than 30 years with the business.

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News: Parseq picks up BT contract

Rotherham-based business process outsourcer Parseq has won a five-year contract to provide back office services for BT Group.

The partnership will see the Hellaby company use technologies such as automation and AI to help streamline payment processing and customer correspondence processes for BT and its EE subsidiary.

This will include managing and digitising BT and EE’s inbound customer mail and handling all payment processing, from transactions made by cheque to BACS payment allocation.

Through the work, Parseq’s team will manage approximately 3.5 million pieces of inbound mail annually and process approximately 700,000 payments per year.

Craig Naylor-Smith, CEO, Parseq, said: “We’ve leveraged our technological expertise and deep understanding of telecoms business’s back-office challenges to design a bespoke programme for BT that will ultimately save the business time and help cut costs, while simultaneously improving quality of service.

“Our partnership has transformation at its core, and the work we’ve done so far has already delivered some impressive results – for example, delivering significant reductions across all suspense accounts, using automated payment technology. We’re looking forward to continuing to build on this success.”

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Fionna Ford, Payments Operation Manager at BT Group, said: “Our partnership will deliver real change in our back-office processes and help us create increasingly streamlined, digital processes that will benefit both our business and our customers.

“From our very first engagement, Parseq has shown itself to be a highly knowledgeable, motivated and supportive partner that really understands our business and our objectives. We’re really looking forward to working together in the months and years to come.”

Parseq is a trusted business services partner, with a global client base including leading telecoms operators, major utility providers and FTSE 100 financial services companies.

The business offers a broad range of technology-driven solutions that use enhanced automation to help clients improve operational efficiency and the customer experience. It automates 94 million images, digitises 70 million documents and processes £36 billion of payments annually.

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News: New jobs hope at Parseq

Another Rotherham company looks to have secured grant funding via the Sheffield City Region (SCR) to unlock investment and create new jobs in the borough.

Rotherham-headquartered business process and technology specialist, Parseq is planning a £3m project at its Hellaby base having secured a major new contract.

Parseq specialises in mobile and online banking software and technology-led outsourcing services. Every year, it digitises 25 million customer correspondence documents and processes £15 billion of electronic payments. In August, the firm completed the sale of its contact centre division to focus on its Rotherham-based finance and administration division.

The firm has received approval for a £178,296 grant from the Sheffield City Region Business Investment Fund (BIF) to support the investment.

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The £52m BIF invests in businesses that demonstrate growth or the potential to grow. It helps businesses unlock investment in activity that helps their business to grow, become more productive and recruit new employees.

The fund includes a contribution from the Government's Local Growth Fund resources for the city region.

Documents show that the firm has secured new business in recent years and has recently won a major new contract. Fulfilling the contract will require additional premises.

Parseq works with leading blue-chip clients across the banking, utilities, telecoms and local authority sectors.

The company has requested BIF grant support to enable it to invest £3.1m in the construction and fitting out of premises. Two options have been under consideration - the construction and fit out of a facility at Hellaby as well as a cheaper option of leasing premises outside the region.

The BIF grant investment is to support the more costly investment in Rotherham and will generate 38 new jobs by March 2021 as well as a significant number of temporary roles during 2021.

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News: Parseq targets growth with new hires

Rotherham-headquartered business process and technology specialist, Parseq, has made three senior appointments within its client service and business development teams to capitalise on a string of new contract wins.

This year the Hellaby-based company has already added nine clients to its roster and invested more than £325,000 in new technology, software and site upgrades to support its ongoing growth.

Parseq specialises in mobile and online banking software and technology-led outsourcing services. Every year, it digitises 25 million customer correspondence documents and processes £15 billion of electronic payments. In August, the firm completed the sale of its contact centre division to focus on its Rotherham-based finance and administration division.

Tracy Ridgard joins Parseq as an account manager, bringing more than 15 years' experience delivering BPO services to customers across the financial services, media and retail sectors.

Prior to Parseq, Tracy held senior account management roles with outsourcers Williams Lea Tag and RR Donnelley. Tracy will work to help Parseq's existing clients access back-office solutions that improve customer experience and deliver cost savings to their business.

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Meanwhile, Parseq has added two new members to its business development team to help the company further expand its client portfolio across its existing and target markets, which include FTSE 100 financial services companies and leading utilities and energy providers.

Nick Wise joins as a business development consultant, bringing 30 years of experience in the BPO industry, with a background in transaction processing, information management and data archiving. Nick was previously BPO Sales Manager for document management specialists Restore.

Last month, the company also welcomed Giles Chambers as a business development consultant. Giles holds more than a decade of experience in digital transformation across the public and private sector and was formerly a Business Development Manager for the UK division of global document management firm Swiss Post.

Craig Naylor-Smith, managing director at Parseq, said: "Tracy, Nick and Giles not only bring track-records of delivering exceptional customer service to their clients, but also a wealth of hard-earned insight and sector knowledge.

"Tracy's background working with clients in the financial services sector, along with Nick and Giles’ experience with cutting-edge digital document management solutions perfectly complements our service offering. Their addition to the team will only strengthen our ability to offer efficiency-driving solutions that are truly bespoke to our clients' businesses."

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News: Parseq sells contact centre division

Business process and technology specialist, Parseq has completed the sale of its contact centre division to focus on its Rotherham-based finance and administration division.

Headquartered at Hellaby, Parseq specialises in mobile and online banking software and technology-led outsourcing services. Every year, it digitises 25 million customer correspondence documents and processes £15 billion of electronic payments.

The company's Finance and Administration arm provides bespoke, technology driven back office solutions to clients operating in the private and public sectors.

Following a successful turnaround of the business, Parseq's contact centre division has been sold to Scotland-based customer services outsourcer, Kura Group for an undisclosed sum.

Parseq was created via a successful £33m reverse takeover by Rami Cassis and Rotherham-based BPO provider, Documetric in 2010. Mr Cassis took the business private in 2012 as a significant shareholder by setting up his own Private Equity fund, Parabellum Capita. Having overseen significant growth Mr Cassis then stepped back from the day-to-day operation of the business and appointed a sub advisory team from another PE firm to manage business operations.

After a period of poor trading, he terminated the sub-advisory team and the Parseq board and returned to an executive role as Chairman and CEO in October 2016. He has since led a successful turnaround of the company from loss-making to £3m profit, with a growing order book of blue-chip clients and an international footprint with partnerships in six continents. Sales have grown consistently over the last two years to £44m in its latest financial year, whilst headcount has grown to around 1,700.

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Parseq said that the sale will allow it to focus on the continued growth of its finance and administration division which will continue to offer a range of solutions to manage and streamline back office processes. It supports a range of clients including FTSE 100 financial services companies, local authorities and energy and utility providers.

Kura said that it has acquired three additional contact centres in Sunderland, Hellaby and Glasgow, making it the UK's largest independent Outsourcer employing around 3,000 people and with sales of £75m.

Rami Cassis, executive chairman and CEO of Parseq and managing partner of Parabellum Capital, said: "The turnaround and sale of Parseq's contact centre division demonstrates the value of investors who can deliver operational knowledge as well as capital. Too many private equity firms lack meaningful management experience, and as a result are failing to maximise the potential of the businesses in which they invest.

"The last five years have helped to shape and focus my strategy on current investments and future acquisitions. Deep domain expertise remains crucial but so does the company you keep in these ventures. My focus remains the acquisition of mid-market firms and corporate disposals in fintech, business services, oilfield services and defence.

"I now look forward to supporting the leadership team to continue Parseq's stellar growth through its finance and administration division, which has secured nine new client wins this year and has a strong sales pipeline up to 2021, whilst remaining focused on developing Parabellum Capital's investment portfolio."

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News: Capgemini make Meadowhall move

Capgemini, a French multinational professional services and business consulting corporation, has relocated its Rotherham office to Sheffield.

The company has taken 3,750 sq ft offices at ARBA Group's recently refurbished multi-million pound Meadowhall Business Park on Carbrook Hall Road.

With a data centre at the steelworks at Aldwarke, Capgemini develops technology projects and manages IT systems for applications and infrastructures of a client (or a group of clients), and their associated business processes.

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Cate Hames, corporate real estate manager at Capgemini UK, said: "We had been in our offices in Rotherham for over 20 years and it was time for a change.

"Meadowhall Business Park provides a great new location for our employees as it's easily accessible and close to the many amenities at the Meadowhall Shopping Centre."

Other tenants at the popular 70,000 sq ft business park, being marketed by the Sheffield office of Knight Frank, include Tuffnells, GMB union, NG Bailey, Auburn Ainsley Limited, Chique Photography, KitchenEx, Preventx, Wilford Smith, Eaton Commercial Property Consultants Ltd and Galaxy Insulation and Dry Lining (Holdings) Limited.

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Richard Burns, director at ARBA Group, said: "We are delighted to welcome Capgemini to Meadowhall Business Park.

"As a leader in IT services, Capgemini is at the forefront of innovation to address its clients' needs when it comes to the evolving world of cloud and digital, and we know our prime location and modern accommodation including raised floors, data linked open work areas and private offices, will provide a work area fit for the future."

Two of the five refurbished buildings remain at Meadowhall Business Park with available suites from 3,750 sq ft to 15,000 sq ft plus on-site car parking.

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News: Parseq picks up four new contracts

Business process and technology specialist, Parseq, has started 2018 by announcing that it is set to create new jobs in Rotherham having secured four new contracts for its Finance and Administration division worth £1.8m.

Based at Hellaby, Parseq specialises in mobile and online banking software and technology-led outsourcing services. It handles over 70 million calls, digitises 25 million customer correspondence documents and processes £15 billion of electronic payments every year.

The company's Finance and Administration arm provides bespoke, technology driven back office solutions to clients operating in the private and public sectors.

The new contracts will see Parseq deliver advanced document management, data capture and cheque and invoice processing services from its secure base in Rotherham.

To support the significant growth, the business has invested £275,000 in new technology, software and onsite upgrades, with plans to raise its headcount of specialist staff by 15.

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Craig Naylor-Smith, managing director of Parseq's Finance & Administration Division, said: "It's fantastic to start the year on such a high note. The investments we've made to meet this new demand will ensure we're perfectly positioned to deliver the back-office efficiencies that have a measurable impact on our clients' bottom lines.

"It also represents the continuing hard work and dedication of our people and the great successes we achieved last year. As we begin 2018 in earnest, I'm confident this upward trajectory will continue.

"Our longest client relationships extend over four decades, so we're looking forward to developing partnerships old and new, working together to drive sustainable growth."

At the end of 2017, Jenny Dearman became head of operations for the Finance and Administration division, replacing long standing Parseq team member Judith Forbes who has retired after working for the BPO in South Yorkshire for the last 30 years.

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News: Parseq expanding in North East and nationwide

Rotherham-headquartered business process and technology specialist, Parseq, has announced further investment in its Sunderland operation that will generate 450 jobs.

Based at Hellaby, Parseq specialises in mobile and online banking software and technology-led outsourcing services. It handles over 70 million calls, digitises 25 million customer correspondence documents and processes £15 billion of electronic payments every year.

Following a period of significant growth through contract expansion and new deals, Parseq is taking on a new 36,000 sq ft, 900 seat call centre, that will sit alongside its existing operation in Sunderland, which currently employs more than 1,300 people.

The investment by the firm, which provide business services to a prestigious client base of blue-chip brands, including EDF Energy and SunLife, will create 450 new roles and secure Parseq's position as one largest investors and employers in Sunderland.

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Graham Stein, managing director of contact centres at Parseq, said: "Since March of this year we've created 200 new roles and we plan to increase this by a further 450, with recruitment starting immediately and into 2017.

"Sunderland has a rich employment and business network and it's this, combined with our unique approach to working with businesses to provide outsourced services, which is enabling us to reap rewards and reinvest in the city.

"All of our UK operations are performing exceptionally well which means we're not only expanding and recruiting here in Sunderland, but on a national scale too."

The firm employs more than 2,000 people nationally and represents some of the UK's most respected companies, including the top ten international banks, a third of the country's utility sector, financial and insurance services.

Following a number of acquisitions, the combined turnover of the group now exceeds £65m. Parseq set the aim to be a business with a £100m turnover in three years.

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News: Parseq pick up thinkmoney contract

Rotherham-headquartered business process and technology specialist, Parseq, has secured a contract with thinkmoney to provide cheque processing services to its customers.

Based at Hellaby, Parseq specialises in mobile and online banking software and technology-led outsourcing services. It handles over 70 million calls, digitises 25 million customer correspondence documents and processes £15 billion of electronic payments every year.

thinkmoney offers a unique current account service that helps its customers to budget more effectively. The account "ring fences" enough income to ensure that customers' bills are paid each month. Remaining funds are loaded onto customers' thinkmoney cards and are available for them to spend instore or online, or for withdrawal at ATMs.

The partnership will see the leading business services firm process all of the cheques deposited – mostly via Post Office Counters – by thinkmoney's personal customers.

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Simon Goodison-Maw, client services director at Parseq said: "thinkmoney approached us to work on the development of a tailored cheque processing solution for its customers because of our extensive knowledge of the financial and banking sector.

"As thinkmoney is an online provider, without its own branch network, it wanted a solution that would allow its customers to deposit cheques at the Post Office.

"They wanted to create a service that was unique and it's been great helping them achieve just that."

Steve Muirhead, director of operations at thinkmoney added: "We wanted to work with an outsource partner that had vast knowledge of the financial sectors and in Parseq that's exactly what we found."

Parseq works on behalf of a number blue chip brands including the top ten international banks, a third of the UK’s utility sector, financial and insurance services.

Craig Smith, managing director of finance and administration at Parseq said: "thinkmoney came to us via a client recommendation, which is a huge compliment. It wanted to tap into our wealth of experience and benefit from our industry relationships and knowledge.

"It's an exciting project to help get off the ground and we're thrilled to be working with thinkmoney."

Smith recently went "back to the floor" at the Rotherham site and was assisted by two of Parseq's most experienced processers, Sylvia Jackson and Kelly Mather. They shadowed Craig's every move so each of the £558,228 worth of cheques he processed were 100% accurate.

He said: "On an average day Parseq process over 35,000 cheques. That's a lot of payments, especially when you consider the meticulous checks each cheque goes through to ensure our clients receive their payments."

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News: Parseq celebrates staff

Two employees at the Rotherham office of Parseq, will collectively celebrate 60 years of service at the business process and technology specialist this year. 

Based at Hellaby, Parseq specialises in mobile and online banking software and technology-led outsourcing services. It handles over 70 million calls, digitises 25 million customer correspondence documents and processes £15 billion of electronic payments every year.

Damien Parr (pictured, second right) and Malcolm Shore (pictured, centre) represent Parseq clients within the financial sector which includes the top ten international banks and a sizable chunk of the UK's insurance market and bluechip brands.

Damien joined at the age of 16 as part of the Youth Training Scheme and since then has progressed up the ladder to the full-time position of technical lead. With thirty years of service and his expertise in print and mail as a specialism Damien is considered a key member of staff.

Malcolm joined in October 1986 as the operational lead for Parseq. His colleagues remark that there isn't much Malcom doesn't know about Parseq and describe him as "the go to person."

Craig Smith, managing director of finance and administration at Parseq, said: "At Parseq we are big believers in valuing our workforce. To be celebrating a total of 60 years' service between Damien and Malcolm is not only a credit to them, but to us also.

"Thirty years of service may be rare for a lot of businesses but I'm proud to say that at Parseq that's not the case. Congratulations Damien and Malcolm. Here's to the next thirty years!"

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Parseq was created via a successful reverse takeover by Rami Cassis and Rotherham-based BPO provider, Documetric in 2010. The £33m management buy out was led by Cassis, together with Nova Capital and funds managed by HarbourVest Partners, LLC. Parseq has over 2,500 employees working across seven UK sites and is aiming to be a business with a £100m turnover in three years.

Last year Parseq announced a £1m investment to develop and expand its UK workforce following the launch of its new identity and plans for market growth.

The firm is launching a large scale recruitment campaign at its Sunderland site where job numbers could be increased by 700.

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News: Parseq appoints new CEO

Rotherham-headquartered business process and technology specialist, Parseq has appointed Tony Strong to lead its management team.

Based at Hellaby, Parseq specialises in mobile and online banking software and technology-led outsourcing services. It handles over 70 million calls, digitises 25 million customer correspondence documents and processes £15 billion of electronic payments every year.

Following a number of acquisitions, the combined turnover of the group now exceeds £65m and its client footprint covers the top ten international banks, a third of the UK's utility sector, the charity sector and a significant presence in the UK insurance sector.

Stong joins the recently re-branded Parseq from Communisis where he doubled turnover over the last five years in his role as group operations managing director responsible for 2,000 staff and 14 locations across the UK.

Parseq recently announced a £1m investment to develop and expand its UK workforce following the firm's launch of its new identity and plans for market growth. Earlier this year, the firm announced a pilot partnership with the skills provider, the National Sales Academy, which will enable its 1,500 employees in Rotherham and Sunderland to gain access to £3,000 worth of educational funding each.

David Carman, chairman at Parseq, said: "Tony is used to working in multi-disciplined, highly regulated environments, he understands our clients' businesses and has a great affinity with the people on the shop floor because that is where he started his career.

"We are delighted to welcome Tony to the Board of Parseq and look forward to working with him as he supports our divisional managing directors to build our client relationships. His total focus will be to put us in a different and differentiated league to our competitors."

Tony Strong, chief executive officer at Parseq (pictured), said: "I plan to focus on three key areas to achieve our ambitions: attracting and retaining the best talent, profitable growth and operational excellence.

"Parseq has already invested a significant sum in the last six months improving the support we provide to our people through development opportunities, including Lean and Six Sigma qualifications. We have unveiled a new brand which categorises and measures all of our employees performance by linking their job roles to the service they provide for our clients which are to: acquire new customers for our clients, retain existing customers for our clients or improve internal client processes."

Parseq was created via a successful reverse takeover by Rami Cassis and Rotherham-based BPO provider, Documetric in 2010. The £33m management buy out was led by Cassis, together with Nova Capital and funds managed by HarbourVest Partners, LLC. Parseq is aiming to be a business with a £100m turnover in three years.

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News: Parseq pledges £1m investment in employee growth

Rotherham-headquartered business process and technology specialist, Parseq has announced that it will invest a further £1m in the development of its 2,500 UK workforce and recruitment across its seven locations.

Based at Hellaby, Parseq specialises in mobile and online banking software and technology-led outsourcing services, handling over 70 million calls, digitising 25 million customer correspondence documents and processing £15 billion of electronic payments every year.

Following a number of acquisitions, the combined turnover of the group now exceeds £65m and its client footprint covers the top ten international banks, a third of the UK's utility sector, the charity sector and a significant presence in the UK insurance sector.

The investment to develop and expand its UK workforce follows the firm's launch of its new identity and plans for market growth. Earlier this year, the firm announced a pilot partnership with the skills provider, the National Sales Academy, which will enable its 1,500 employees in Rotherham and Sunderland to gain access to £3,000 worth of educational funding each.

Spearheading the employee investment programme is Louise Cope, group HR director who on the was recently appointed on the management board of Parseq. She said: "As a business we invest significantly in our technology, new product offerings and the services we offer to our clients so we remain at the cutting edge of the outsourcing sector. But the asset which has, and always will be the most valuable and our biggest priority is our people.

"We pride ourselves on being about to attract, upskill and retain the best talent and this investment is not only testament to this view but it will ensure we can do even more to make our workforce the very best in the sector.

"We plan to grow our business over the next three years and this investment in our people is vital for us achieving this ambitious goal."

The investment will see Parseq extend its employee training academy further and contribute to the introduction of a new HR management system, investment in its office facilities across the UK and the launch of a regional initiatives to give more people access to employment.

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David Carman, chairman of Parseq, said: "Both the appointment of Parseq's first group HR director and the financial commitment we've made in our workforce and recruitment demonstrates our desire to achieve commercial growth by investing in people.

"People are, and always will be, at the heart of our business and the reason behind our successes. Because of this we've worked hard to ensure every one of our employees can continually develop and in turn add value to our clients and our business.

"Our aim is clear. Not only do we want to be known as the multi-channel service provider everyone wants working for them, but also the business everyone wants to work for."

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News: Parseq rebrands as part of growth strategy

Rotherham-headquartered business process and technology specialist, Parseq is simplifying the way outsourced services are bought and managed.

Based at Hellaby, Parseq specialises in mobile and online banking software and technology-led outsourcing services. It processes 25 million documents a year and the Hellaby facility provides BACS electronic fund transfers, remittance processing and voucher processing services.

Following a number of acquisitions, the combined turnover of the group now exceeds £65m and its client footprint covers the top ten international banks, a third of the UK's utility sector, the charity sector and a significant presence in the UK insurance sector.

Parseq has over 2,500 employees working across seven UK sites and has now rebranded, placing staff from across the enlarged group into three distinct activities - acquire, retain and improve.

Acquire covers services designed to increase the market share and sales for clients and includes outbound sales, mail processing and e-enquiry handling. Retain focuses on customer loyalty and increasing satisfaction and includes services such as inbound customer service, mail management and online mobile payments. Improve services are designed to reduce costs and improve focus such as document management, payment processing and data hosting.

Lian Chambers, marketing director at Parseq, said: "It's an incredibly exciting time for Parseq. We have ambitious plans for market growth and a new direction that challenges the outsourcing sector.

"The new brand identity runs much deeper than just how we look. Our new marketing proposition reflects every aspect of how we do business and our strategy for growth.

"We acquire new customers for our clients, we retain their market share and we improve their operation to make them more efficient and profitable. It's a simple proposition and one which will really shake up the business process outsourcing sector.

"We're all aware that outsourcing can be perceived in a negative way, when in fact it achieves great things for many companies. Our brand celebrates this."

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News: Parseq's employee education partnership

Business process and technology specialist, Parseq, has announced a partnership with the skills provider, the National Sales Academy, which will enable its 1,500 employees in Rotherham and Sunderland to gain access to £3,000 worth of educational funding each.

Based at Hellaby, Parseq specialises in mobile and online banking software and technology-led outsourcing services and operates contact centres and finance and administration processing. It processes over 100,000 items of correspondence a day, £2 billion of electronic payments a month and make and receive over 70 million calls a year on the behalf of its clients.

Parseq will trial the educational scheme with the National Sales Academy first in South Yorkshire and the North East, before it is rolled out across its London and Brighton sites making it available to more than 2,100 employees.

Designed to encourage more employees to gain nationally recognised qualifications in subjects such as business administration, customer services, sales and management, the initiative is being made available to all of Parseq's employees who have been with the firm for at least six months and who currently don't hold any higher or further education qualifications.

Louise Cope, group HR hirector at Parseq, said: "Our employees are our most valuable asset. We pride ourselves on not only attracting the best talent in the industry but also supporting their professional development from the very moment they join Parseq and throughout their career with us.

"Our partnership with the National Sales Academy will further enhance our existing staff development programmes by providing all our employees with the chance to gain nationally recognised qualifications while they work.

"We've always maintained the view that our business growth and success is the result of a dedicated, motivated and skilled workforce and this investment is testament to our continued commitment to all of our employees."

The firm, which works on behalf of a third of UK's utility sector, the top ten international banks and a sizable proportion of the charity sector, has announced a commitment to grow its business from turnover of £65m to £100m in just three years.

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News: New directors for Parseq

Rotherham-headquartered business process and technology specialist, Parseq, has made two key appointments as it continues with its strategy to create a business with a £100m turnover in three years.

Based at Hellaby, Parseq specialises in mobile and online banking software and technology-led outsourcing services. It processes 25 million documents a year and the Hellaby facility provides BACS electronic fund transfers, remittance processing and voucher processing services to a number of high street banks.

Current head of marketing, Lian Chambers, has been appointed as marketing director and Louise Cope has joined as group human resources director.

Playing a vital role in the company's rebrand, Chambers' ten years of experience in the BPO sector was also critical for the integration of Parseq's newly acquired businesses, including 2Touch and Pure.

Lian Chambers, marketing director at Parseq (pictured, left), said: "This year Parseq has undergone a complete transformation. It's rebranded, acquired a raft of new businesses, grown our UK network to seven key locations and expanded our business streams and produce offerings. As a result our workforce has doubled in size and our investment in jobs creation continues well into 2015 and beyond. This rapid growth has seen my team work closer than ever before with our HR function to develop a comprehensive internal communications strategy which can be taken across the whole business.

"2015 is an exciting year for HR and marketing as we aim to transform our 3000 strong workforce into a passionate group of brand ambassadors."

New recruit, Louise, brings with her vast experience having acted as group HR director for FTSE 100, FMCG, retail, manufacturing, engineering and Contact Centres brands and organisations. In her senior role at Parseq, Cope will manage the corporate HR function across Parseq's sites in Rotherham, York, Leeds Sunderland, Glasgow, Brighton and London.

Louise Cope, group human resources director at Parseq (pictured, right), said: "I am attracted to Parseq because of its innovative approach towards its employees. I am excited to be part of growing the organisation with such passionate and dedicated staff. It's something to be relished.

"I bring with me proven expertise across many sectors in developing robust corporate HR functions and a desire to deliver a strategy that will support Parseq's growth."

Recommended reading: Improving Document Accessibility and Management: An Overview for Business Owners

Parseq was created via a successful reverse takeover by Rami Cassis and Rotherham-based BPO provider, Documetric in 2010. The £33m management buy out was led by Cassis, together with Nova Capital and funds managed by HarbourVest Partners, LLC.

Following a number of acquisitions, the combined turnover of the group now exceeds £65m and its client footprint covers the top ten international banks, a third of the UK's utility sector, the charity sector and a significant presence in the UK insurance sector.

Parseq website

Images: Parseq

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News: Parseq picks up Pure in pre-pack deal

Rotherham-headquartered business process and technology specialist, Parseq, has acquired Brighton-based charity contact centre, Pure, out of administration.

Based at Hellaby, Parseq specialises in mobile and online banking software and technology-led outsourcing services.

Pure's client list includes Save the Children, Unicef and Sue Ryder and Parseq believes that it is "a strategic addition to existing charity operation, which increases the company's sector penetration and global reach." In 2013, Parseq made its first acquisition - The Panther Group (TPG), a UK-based contact centre services company which included telephone fundraising company, Pell & Bales.

Parseq's fundraising operations now combine knowledge and experience across two continents, expanding capacity, capabilities and time-zone coverage, through strategic partnerships in North America.

Pure was founded in 2002 and employed over 100 fund raising staff who focused on "donor development" of existing contacts for major charities and not-for-profit organisations in the UK, including political parties and pressure groups. Experts at Duff & Phelps were called in July after Pure encountered financial difficulties due to the loss of a large customer to a competitor, a squeezed fundraising market, costly regulatory requirements and staffing costs.

With debts to RBS and NatWest, a pre-pack administration deal was secured which saw Parseq buy certain assets for £120,000 following extended negotiations over unpaid wages.

Growing firm Parseq had previously tried to acquire Pure when it was solvent as part of plans to create a business with a £100m turnover in three years.

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Derwyn Jones, CEO of Parseq, said: "Pure is a strategic and cultural fit for our existing charity fundraising operation.

"Existing clients of Pure will experience the benefits of being part of a fast growing innovative business that is bringing exciting new services to the sector.

"And it increases our experience and capabilities in the not for profit space as we move closer to our goal of building an outsourcing company that focuses only on business processes with a turnover of £100m."

Parseq was created via a successful reverse takeover by Rami Cassis and Rotherham-based BPO provider, Documetric in 2010. The £33m management buy out was led by Cassis, together with Nova Capital and funds managed by HarbourVest Partners, LLC.

The firm processes over 75,000 items of correspondence a day and the Hellaby facility provides BACS electronic fund transfers, remittance processing and voucher processing services and is also home to a 12,000 sq ft data centre that opened in 2011.

Following the latest acquisition, the combined turnover of the group will now exceed £65m and its client footprint covers the top ten international banks, a third of the UK’s utility sector, the charity sector and a significant presence in the UK insurance sector.

The move comes just two months after its acquisition of Sunderland-based 2Touch, a major contact centre and fulfilment business, which added a complementary 1,000 seat call centre and back office fulfilment operation to Parseq's existing back office, call centre and fundraising operations.

Parseq website

Images: Pell & Bales

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News: Parseq bags Centrica mail contract

Rotherham-headquartered business process and technology specialist, Parseq, has secured a five year contract with Centrica, the UK's largest energy supplier, to handle its incoming mail - nearly 20,000 items each month.

Based at Hellaby, Parseq specialises in mobile and online banking software and technology-led outsourcing services. It processes over 100,000 documents per day, £2 billion of electronic payments a month and make and received over 70 million calls a year on behalf of its clients. The Hellaby facility provides BACS electronic fund transfers, remittance processing and voucher processing services to a number of high street banks.

Listed on the FTSE 100, Centrica works at every step of the energy chain, from sourcing and generating it, to supplying it through its companies, British Gas and Scottish Gas.

Building on its existing contact-centre relationship, Parseq won a competitive tender to manage and digitally index correspondence including legal, financial documentation, cheque processing, general correspondence and processing cash payments processing.

Craig Smith, divisional managing director at Parseq, said: "Because each piece of post Centrica receives needs to be acted upon immediately it needed to be confident that changing supplier wouldn't impact on service delivery. There is no margin for error.

"Although this contract hasn't been awarded to a new outsource provider for a number of years, we're proud to say that our expertise and proven experience demonstrated we could not only do the job, but also add improvements and efficiencies to it."

Richard Parker, commercial strategy manager at Centrica, added: "The transition to Parseq couldn't have gone better. For us outsourcing isn't about freeing up in-house resource it's about leaving a central part of our business in the hands of the experts and with this contract we feel that's exactly what we've done.

"Parseq demonstrated to us early in the tendering process that they had the capability to not only take on this contract, but also the experience to enhance its delivery."

With headquarters in South Yorkshire, the growing outsourcer employs around 2,700 people working from five key sites in Sunderland, Glasgow, Rotherham, London and Brighton.

Parseq website

Images: Centrica

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News: Parseq picked as partners to process parking payments

Rotherham-headquartered business process and technology specialist, Parseq, has secured a significant contract with APCOA, the UK's largest car park manager.

Based at Hellaby, Parseq specialises in mobile and online banking software and technology-led outsourcing services. It processes over 75,000 items of correspondence a day and the Hellaby facility provides BACS electronic fund transfers, remittance processing and voucher processing services to a number of high street banks.

Headquarted in Germany and owned by French investment company, Eurazeo, APCOA manages 1.3 million parking spaces for local authorities, hotels, hospitals, stations and airports across 12 countries. They are used by 150 million drivers each year.

The deal will see Parseq process £1.1m of payments annually and receive 700 postal items a day on its behalf.

Vince Smallhorne, sales and marketing director at Parseq, said: "We're delighted to have been chosen as APCOA's partner for document management and payment processing.

"The contract win increases our penetration into the parking sector in the UK, where we already serve 25 local authorities through our relationship with Liberty Services, scanning 1.9 million documents and processing more than 100,000 cheques a year through partnerships with leading enforcement providers."

Parseq was created via a successful reverse takeover by Rami Cassis and Rotherham-based BPO provider, Documetric in 2010. As part of a continued growth strategy, Alan Doran and David Woolley have recently been appointed as business development directors to secure new clients.

Smallhorne added: "Last month we announced our intention to create a business with £100m turnover in three years and I see these appointments as key to allowing us to achieve this goal.

"Both Alan and David have exceptionally strong industry credentials and even in the short time they've been with us their experience has proved to be second to none."

With headquarters in South Yorkshire, the outsourcer employs around 2,700 people working from five key sites in Sunderland, Glasgow, Rotherham, London and Brighton.

Parseq website

Images: APCOA

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News: Parseq targets £100m turnover

Rotherham-headquartered business process and technology specialist, Parseq, has acquired Sunderland-based 2Touch, a major contact centre and fulfilment business, as part of its strategy to create a business with a £100m turnover in three years.

Based at Hellaby, Parseq specialises in mobile and online banking software and technology-led outsourcing services. It has bought 2Touch from US-based Acxiom for an undisclosed sum and adds a complementary 1,000 seat call centre and back office fulfilment operation to Parseq's existing back office, call centre and fundraising services.

2Touch manage over 15 million calls and 5 million emails each year for some of the UK's biggest brands. It also operates back office processing services and warehousing, storage and fulfilment space.

Derwyn Jones, chief executive at Parseq, said: "2Touch is a cultural and operational fit for Parseq which gives us the scale and geographical coverage to attract new clients and deepen our relationship with existing clients.

"2Touch's established client service ethos and great reputation links closely to the Parseq business model and together provides us with a strong sector footprint particularly in utilities, financial services and insurance providers.

"We are delighted to be bringing together two industry leading businesses with the people, processes and operational capabilities to enhance our proposition as the only mid-sized corporate providing end to end outsourcing services combining front office, back office and IT."

The combined organisation will employ around 2,700 people working from five key sites in Sunderland, Glasgow, Rotherham, London and Brighton and have a turnover of around £65m. Parseq beleives that the additional operational site will enhance its business continuity proposition.

Derwyn Jones has previously stated that the target for Parseq in 2015 is 45 per cent growth in profit.

Parseq was created via a successful reverse takeover by Rami Cassis and Rotherham-based BPO provider, Documetric in 2010. The £33m management buy out was led by Cassis, together with Nova Capital and funds managed by HarbourVest Partners, LLC.

The firm processes over 75,000 items of correspondence a day and the Hellaby facility provides BACS electronic fund transfers, remittance processing and voucher processing services to a number of high street banks and is also home to a 12,000 sq ft data centre that opened in 2011.

In 2013, Parseq made its first acquisition - The Panther Group (TPG), a UK-based contact centre services company.

Parseq website

Images: 2Touch

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