MANDEVILLE, Manchester – Still a relatively new business in the parish, business process outsourcing (BPO) company Sutherland Global Services took top spot at this month’s Manchester Chamber of Commerce (MCC) Business Awards function.

The other nominees in the category were Shoppers Fair Supermarket (Progressive Foods) and H&L True Value/H&L Agro.

Sutherland Global started operations on Ward Avenue in Mandeville in late 2015, and its service is one of the alternatives aimed at diversifying and rebuilding the economy in central Jamaica.

The bauxite/alumina industries in the area were the mainstay of the economy for many years.

However, the economy of Manchester and other areas in central Jamaica experienced a downturn in 2009 with the slump the once-booming bauxite/alumina sector.

Sutherland Global’s facility in Mandeville is a 70,000 square foot space and was developed with significant investment support from the government-owned Development Bank of Jamaica.

Country director, Odetta Rockhead-Kerr, in the acceptance speech at the awards function, said that the organisation has 1800 employees and is now looking at a second location in Mandeville for expansion.

The United States-headquartered Sutherland Global Services also has operations at other locations in Jamaica.

Other organisations that walked away as winners at the MCC Business Awards were the Christiana-based Price Gell Supermarket in the category of entrepreneurship; NCB Foundation for community impact; Jamaica Money Market Brokers for customer Service; and Pioneer Chocolate on the family business category.

The Manchester Police, Knutsford Express, Three Angels Pharmacy, Golf View Hotel and Restaurants of Jamaica were all recognised for outstanding contribution.