Lafarge Accounting Arm Triumph In European Awards

Lafarge financial shared services, based in Syston, Leicester, has received a top honour in a prestigious industry competition.

The shared service centre which provides all accounting services for both Lafarge Aggregates & Concrete UK and Lafarge Cement, was named the winner in the Culture Creation category of the 12th annual European Shared Services & Outsourcing Network (SSON) Excellence Awards.

Up against shared services from across Europe, it was also shortlisted in the Innovation category, narrowly missing out on an award at the ceremony in Amsterdam.

Judges recognised Lafarge's commitment to ongoing personal development and innovative motivational practices, making special mention of the department's unique form of submission – via video.

With the likes of multi-national firms such as IBM and Microsoft also receiving awards the celebration truly highlighted Lafarge's shared services role as a major European success story.

Phil Lanyon, director Lafarge UK financial shared services said :

"I am really proud of this award, it is a fantastic award and a reflection of all the efforts our people have put in to making the shared service centre work so well.

"Importantly it also recognises on a major scale, among other global companies , the way the UK business units work with us and the way we work with them to make financial shared services such a success.

"It is a supreme example of working together as 'one Lafarge'."

SSON's annual Shared Services Excellence Awards honor, recognize and promote both captive and outsourced shared services that demonstrate winning practices. These Awards form the industry benchmark in terms of performance excellence.

Open to captive as well as outsourced SSOs, the awards are judged by a panel with proven expertise in customer service; culture creation; communication; value; and improvement & innovation.

Naomi Secor SSON conference producer said :

"The calibre of applications has been increasing every year. We were delighted with the number of applicants, as well as the originality displayed.

"One of the submissions arrived in the form of a video – which was very impressive. We also were able to witness just how many shared services are moving into the "added value" space, leaving the legacy of "back office" truly and firmly behind."