The UK’s leading High Court Enforcement Agency, Braintree-based Shergroup, has won a place in the finals of a prestigious countywide award in Essex to honour the company’s outstanding achievements in innovation.

Shergroup’s development of an innovative on-line case management system to allow its clients to track the progress of writ enforcement in real time – known as the SHERPA system – has secured the company a finalist’s place in the Essex Business Excellence Awards’ Innovation category.

It marks Shergroup’s recognition of a gap in the market for enforcement services. Sh ergroup uses the SHERPA system to enforce High Court Writs through its Sherforce brand, as well as managing the collection of judgment debts which are outside the scope of the High Court, through its Sherforce Plus brand.

The Essex Business Excellence Awards are organised by the Essex Chronicle Media Group in association with joint main sponsors Bird Luckin Chartered Accountants and Wollastons Solicitors. 2009 marks the twelfth year of the programme.

Shergroup will now face a panel of judges before the winners of the Innovation category are announced at a gala dinner at Braxted Park near Witham in September.

The finalists’ place in the Innovation category reflects Shergroup’s on-going enhancement of the software, and also the recent expansion of Shergroup’s own office in India. The offshore team comprises both a captive BPO operation as well as an IT enabled services development team who with the support of Shergroup’s Chief Technical Officer are constantly working to improve service delivery through the SHERPA system.

Chief Executive Claire Sandbrook, who is also Chair of the High Court Enforcement Officers’ Association and said: “This is a fantastic accolade for our TEAM from our home county as it reflects our continuing commitment to develop innovative services including SHERPA that best meet our clients’ needs.”

“At a time when people are looking for the best solutions to their debt recovery problems, we are confident we are offering a service that goes way beyond anything in the market.”

“I see our achievement in making it into the finals as recognition for all the hard work undertaken by the whole team at Shergroup, both in Braintree and in India.”