DEVON County Council’s Customer Service Centre is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, marking two decades of providing support and information to residents and professionals across the county.

The centre began life in 2005 as a pilot project focused on answering calls from residents aged over 50.

Since then, it has expanded significantly and now serves people of all ages, handling enquiries across a wide range of council services including highways, children’s social care, registrars, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and Blue Badge applications.

Today, a team of 36 advisers manages around 20,000 telephone calls each month.

Many queries are resolved during the initial contact, while others are logged and passed on to specialist departments for further action.

In addition to phone enquiries, the centre also processes approximately 6,000 emails every month, providing a key point of contact between the council and the public.

The Blue Badge administration team within the service also handles around 2,000 applications each month, supporting residents with mobility needs to access essential parking provisions.

To mark the milestone, Councillor Simon Clist, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Assets and Resources, visited the Customer Service Centre.

He was joined by Customer Relations Manager Helen Wyatt and Deputy Director of Legal and Democratic Services Gavin Happe.

During the visit, Councillor Clist welcomed new members of staff and presented long service awards to advisers and managers who have worked at the centre for more than 15 years.

He praised the team for their dedication and commitment to supporting residents across Devon.

Reflecting on the anniversary, staff described reaching the 20-year milestone as a proud achievement, highlighting the centre’s ongoing role as a vital link between the council and the communities it serves.