BUSINESSES that make it a top priority to leave a good lasting impression on customers are being encouraged to enter the Nuffield Health Customer Service Award at this year’s 2016 Dorset Business Awards in association with the Daily Echo and Dorset Echo.

This award will recognise the Dorset business, large or small, that can demonstrate its commitment to providing the very highest level of customer service.

Current title holder Ceuta Healthcare is the number one outsourcing sales, marketing and distribution company in the world of health and beauty. The customer services team are an integral part of Ceuta Healthcare, responsible for sales team support and customer relations.

The company is constantly reviewing and improving processes to meet the changing needs of the industry and customers to ensure it delivers the best results and exceeds expectations. The team is committed to excellence and value, working together to achieve common goals.

Sarah Freeman, customer service manager at Ceuta Healthcare, said: “Being a winner is a great achievement and it’s something we are all very proud of. It’s recognition for all of our hard work and dedication. It’s also a strong message to share with our clients to showcase the exceptional service the team provide for their brands.

“The entry process was a real team effort as we all provided input in the entry we submitted. We tried hard to showcase the culture of the team, as well as concisely cover what we do, to give a really good overview of the responsibilities we have and the dynamic skill set needed to perform these tasks. We were very proud to win a Dorset Business Award.”

Entrants will need to:

Give a brief overview of the nature of their trade and customer base

Summarise the customer care policy, including details of any quality standards the business has achieved

Describe the initiatives in place to ensure all staff understand and put into practice the principles of the customer care policy

Highlight how the business monitors the quality of customer care provided and reacts to feedback

Demonstrate how the business has made improvements in customer satisfaction

Explain how the business is planning to maintain and/or improve performance in the future

Explain why they believe the business deserves this award

David McNair, hospital director at Nuffield Health Bournemouth Hospital, said: “Good or bad, customer service has always been closely tied to the fortunes of businesses and brands. Now the dominance of social media, review sites and easy online searching is increasingly magnifying that relationship. Experiences are being shared more widely than ever before and influence whether customers become loyal to a business.“To showcase the importance of customer service to the Dorset economy, Nuffield Health Bournemouth Hospital is encouraging firms to put themselves forward and be recognised for the high levels of customer service they provide.”

Organised by Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the awards are also backed by Wave 105 and are free to enter. Entries can be submitted via dorsetbusinessawards.co.uk and the closing date is September 9. Entry is open to companies of all sizes based in Dorset with a BH or DT postcode and entrants do not need to be a member of Dorset Chamber.

For information about the awards, sponsorship or tickets for the gala dinner at the BIC on November 24, call 01202 714812.