Echo Logo
Echo Logo

Echo expands collections division with acquisition of utilities specialist

From the Knowledge Centre

Adds Sheffield-based Grosvenor Services Group to collections portfolio, strengthening Echo’s ability to deliver true, end-to-end customer journey support.

Echo Managed Services, the specialist provider of outsourced end-to-end customer contact services, has strengthened its collections division with the acquisition of Sheffield-based Grosvenor Services Group. Grosvenor is one of the UK’s leading debt collection agencies, specialising in field-based collections within the utilities sector.

Combining Grosvenor’s field based skills with Echo’s comprehensive multi-site contact centre resource and office based collections expertise will further strengthen Echo’s end-to-end customer contact proposition, with the company offering comprehensive customer journey support, from initial sign-up through to ongoing debt recovery where necessary. The acquisition of Grosvenor Services Group follows Echo’s 2011 purchase of London based Inter-Credit International – one of the UK’s longest established debt recovery agencies with over 40 years’ experience and speciality in office based collections.

“Acquiring Grosvenor Services Group is a great strategic move for Echo as we have complementary skills and expertise, particularly in key sectors such as utilities and the public sector that are central to Echo’s expansion plans,” commented Nigel Baker, Managing Director at Echo. “Echo already bills and collects many millions of pounds for utility and public sector clients each year, and the addition of Grosvenor’s proven debt recovery and debtor tracing solutions – backed by its strong field-based collections resource – will further strengthen our operation.”

Nigel Baker added: “We have an on-going commitment to provide our clients with a best practice approach to collections - one that not only delivers better results for our clients but also ensures full compliance with key industry regulatory and governance requirements. With the specialist skills and expertise that the Grosvenor team brings, we look forward to further strengthening Echo’s collections capability."

Echo’s leading edge collections strategy is based on a powerful data-driven approach that focuses on helping organisations to choose the right solution for the right customer at the right time. Echo is focused on ensuring that it consistently delivers on collections targets for its clients, while always treating their customers fairly with empathy and understanding. Following the acquisition, Grosvenor’s Sheffield-based operation becomes Echo’s seventh site.

Commenting on the acquisition, Lloyd Birkhead, MD of Grosvenor Services Group Ltd said: “at Grosvenor we’ve built a reputation over the last 17 years for providing our customers, particularly those in the utilities sector, with a high quality debt recovery service. I’m therefore delighted that in Echo Managed Services we move forward with a complementary business partner that will build on our success by integrating Grosvenor and our services into its end-to-end customer contact proposition.”

Assistance for the acquisition was provided by FDYL LLP and Ironmonger Curtis LLP.

Share this article

More in the Knowledge centre

More News

News

Echo Managed Services appoints Hayley Monks as new MD

Hayley Monks joins Echo Managed Services as its new Managing Director, replacing Monica Mackintosh at the helm of the business,…

Read
News

Echo Managed Services to Attend VicWater 2024 Annual Conference

Echo Managed Services is delighted to announce its participation in the upcoming VicWater 2024 Annual Conference, scheduled to take place…

Read
News

Aptumo agrees partnership with USP to support stateside expansion of its water billing software

We’re pleased to announce that Aptumo, our next-generation customer and billing solution for water utility providers has secured a strategic…

Read
News

Echo Managed Services strengthens its service with a new head of billing and collections

We are delighted to have appointed Lee Hugill to this important role to help our water sector clients.

Read

More Debt Recovery & Revenue Management

Blog

Payment plans top the list of debt management options for UK water customers

In the face of the ongoing cost of living crisis, research from Aptumo, our next-generation water billing and CRM software,…

Read
News

One in six delayed payment of a water bill due to lack of understanding

Unclear communications and a lack of understanding of water bills are causing almost one in six (14%) bill payers to…

Read
News

Calls for a crack down on dangerous tamper tutorials

Social media companies have a duty to crack down on the numerous dangerous energy meter tamper tutorials present on their…

Read
News

86% of UK residents think energy companies must do more to tackle meter cheating

This is a worrying view from consumers and indicates that energy theft investigation may be viewed more as a cost…

Read

Choose how you want to get in touch with us

Pick up the phone and call us...

0845 12 12 122

Call

...or simply email us for a quick response.

ask@echo-ms.com

Send email