22/02/10 - Thomas Vale Bring New Aston House Back to Life

The new Customer Services Centre was previously a Neighbourhood Office and has been developed as part of the Customer First Business Transformation Programme. The new centre’s public floor space has also increased by three times the original size.

Customer First is at the heart of Business Transformation for the people of Birmingham, helping the Council to provide world class standards of customer service. The centre will give advice and information on all council services, welfare benefits (including Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit), Council Tax and money/debt. Also advice to anyone with housing problems, including those who are homeless or threatened with homelessness. The service is aimed at the general public and people who are or may be priority homeless, and serves people in the Aston ward. Cllr Paul Tilsley, Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “The old Neighbourhood Offices have been a popular resource for many years, but in their current format they are no longer fit for purpose. “By embracing modern technology we are developing a network of Customer Service Centres and other communications methods such as our revamped website and a single telephone number that will better cater for the needs of our citizens. “We are determined to improve levels of customer satisfaction through our Business Transformation programme and I believe that the opening of our first Customer Service Centre is an important landmark on that journey.” Thomas Vale has a turnover of £214million and 830 employees. Recently they have celebrated a record month with over £52 million of new projects secured, bringing the companies forward workload in excess of £550 million. Mark French, Contracts Manager at Thomas Vale Construction, Commented: “As a local company, Thomas Vale are extremely proud to of been main contractors for the New Aston House project on behalf of Birmingham City Council and the Birmingham Construction Partnership.”