Our History

Although the GFM ClearComms brand was officially launched in 2016, we have been delivering industry-leading contact centre outsourcing services and marketing solutions since 1989 from our head offices in Colchester, Essex.

 

Best Contact Centre - GFM ClearComms
2018

GFM ClearComms wins ‘Best Contact Centre’ at 2018 Engage Awards

In November 2018 our Times team in partnership with News UK were recognised as the ‘Best Contact Centre’ in the UK at the 2018 Engage Awards.

GFM logo
1989

GFM established

Group Four Marketing was established in Colchester in 1989 by our current CEO Peter Sakal who identified an opportunity in the leisure industry, which has led to us today being an award-winning, industry leading customer experience agency that works with some of the UK’s most loved brands.

Sun Hols - GFM ClearComms
1989

GFM creates and starts managing The Sun’s £9.50 holiday promotion

Shortly after Group Four Marketing’s launch in 1989 we started working with the UK’s best-selling newspaper The Sun. We created the ‘Hols from £9.50’ promotion, which is today the country’s longest running newspaper promotion, and continue to deliver this promotion in its entirety up to this day.

Jeans for Genes - GFM ClearComms
1997

GFM starts delivering promotional fulfilment & call handling services for Jeans for Genes

In 1997 national children’s charity Jeans for Genes contacted GFM to help them with fulfilment and call handling services to satisfy increasing amounts of enquiries. In response, we created new procedures that enhanced operational efficiency and enabled the client to process more donations.

Haven - GFM ClearComms
1999

GFM starts delivering call centre services for Haven Holidays

Our success in delivering The Sun’s holiday promotions led to us providing our first holiday call centre services on behalf of Haven Holidays in 1999. Our clientele within this sector has increased significantly since then but we still work with Haven to this day.

The Sun Call Centre - GFM ClearComms
2010

GFM starts delivering contact centre services for Children in Need

The growing popularity of Children in Need’s renowned annual telethon event meant that they needed help handling and processing donations, which is why they contacted GFM in 2010 to provide IVR and call centre services, and we have been supporting the UK charity ever since.

The Times Call Centre - GFM ClearComms
2013

GFM increases FTE to over 350 employees

As a result of continued success and a growing client portfolio GFM increased its FTE to over 350 employees in 2014, providing a significant amount of jobs and career opportunities; which have helped boost the local economy.

The Sun Call Centre - GFM ClearComms
2013

GFM launches dedicated contact centre for The Sun

GFM had already worked with The Sun for almost 25 years when they asked them to manage all of their customer enquiries. In response, we created a dedicated and fully branded 30 seat contact centre that delivers call handling, live chat, email and social media services.

The Times Call Centre - GFM ClearComms
2014

GFM launches dedicated contact centre for The Times

In 2014 British national newspaper The Times contacted GFM to help them transform the customer service delivered to its readership. In response, we created a dedicated and fully branded 80 seat contact centre that delivers call handling, live chat, email and social media services.

GFM ClearComms
2016

GFM ClearComms brand is officially launched

As part of a significant company restructuring GFM launched GFM ClearComms in November 2016, which combined the group’s vast expertise in contact centres, partnership and promotions, digital marketing and fulfilment services.

European Contact Centre & Customer Service Awards Winner 2017 - GFM Clearcomms
2017

GFM ClearComms wins European ‘Outsourced Contact Centre of the Year’ award

In November 2017 we were delighted to be recognised as one of the best Outsourced Contact Centres in Europe at the prestigious European Contact Centre & Customer Service Awards.