Welcome to the latest issue of the Customer First UK Newsletter which goes out to over 6000 people across the UK who are all focused on making customer service excellence their priority. In this issue we bring news of improvements made to the Customer First Assessment Services which brings further benefits to organisations striving to achieve the Customer First Standard and inspirational case studies from pioneering organisations who have been the first in their sector to achieve the national standard for customer service.

Furthermore, we congratulate our chair, Helen West on her richly deserved OBE, received in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for her services to business support including her involvement in the original development of the Customer First Standard.

Enjoy!
Customer First UK

In this issue

» 7 Top Tips for Customer Service 
» Better Value for our Customers
» SGS Appointment
» The New LSC Standard
» Customer First Progress Update
» Inspirational Case Studies
» Conferences and Events
» National Customer Service Week

 7 Top Tips for Top Customer Service – Become a class apart

Organisations ‘looking to find the edge and demonstrate it to their customers, partners, staff and stakeholders must realise they have to engage their clients in a service excellence journey,' as recognised by Customer First UK Chief Executive, Keith Ramsay in a recent article for Mortgage Adviser. To ensure that your organisation delivers top service remember these 7 tips

 

Customer First accredited organisations perform better against the LSC’s New Standard

If you’re a college or training provider that has already achieved the Customer First Standard the good news is that you’re already prepared for approaching the Learning and Skills Council’s New Standard. This news can only be to the great benefit of both internal and external customers and probably means that you’re well along the road to continuously improving your customer’s journey. Find out more about these positive findings.

 Celebrate National Customer Service Week, 1st to 7th October

Thousands of organisations across the UK will be gearing up for this week long celebration which offers you the chance to raise awareness of the vital role played by customer service professionals in your organisation. Customer First UK will be celebrating by hosting regional complimentary events to share customer service best practice, having a prize winning competition for our customers and having our own party to recognise the improtant role of our team in delivering a service that 84% of our customers are very satisfied with. For more ideas on how you could celebrate, visit the National Customer Service Week website

Customer First UK Progress

Progress Update from Customer First UK

Find out more about the recent changes to the Customer First assessment services, the awareness events taking place across the country and meetings held with organisations that recognise that the Customer First Standard is the practical approach to achieving customer service excellence. read more

Better Value for our
Customers

Launched from the 1st July 2007, the new Customer First assessment service offers more flexibility, choice and demonstrable value for our customers.  Customers can now choose between 3 independent assessment bodies, giving customers the opportunity to decide which offers best value for money and flexibility of approach to meet their assessment needs. read more

SGS appointed as one of the three Customer First Assessment Bodies

Global leader and innovator in inspection, verification, testing and certification services, SGS have been appointed to deliver Customer First assessment services. SGS commercial services manager, Gary Baker, says: “Putting The Customer First is…relevant to many organisations with which we are already working. It is important for us to be involved in this area and we are pleased to have been appointed.”
 read more

Case Studies

TEDCO was the first organisation in the North East to achieve the Customer First Standard back in 2005. They are now seen as a best practice case study for other organisations to aspire to, following their reaccreditation this year. Doug Scott, TEDCO Chief Exec said, “To be seen as a best practice case study is a fantastic accolade for everyone involved with TEDCO. This is great news for our staff, partners and most of all, our customers.” read more

AA Security Ltd has become the first business of its kind to achieve the Customer First Standard. Founder and Managing Director, Wilson Chowdhry says that the achievement ‘underpins our already-strong customer focus, strengthens our commitment to sustainable development and our aspiration to enhance the image of our industry.”read more

Determined to offer excellent customer service from the start, International Property Agents is the first property company in the country to achieve the Customer First Standard. Director Koray Sunbul recognised that “The overseas property industry has been dogged by bad press generated by horror stories of companies who have been solely motivated by sales targets. Our approach has always been different, right from day one we’ve put the customer first.” read more

© Customer First UK 2007.

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