CUSTOMERS NAME GOLDEN GIRLS

Staff at Norwich and Peterborough’s Sheringham branch have beaten the Society’s other 55 branches - to win N&P’s Customer Service Award for 2004.   The Award was set up in 1995 to encourage, recognise and reward excellent customer service at N&P branches. Customers are encouraged, through regular customer surveys, to comment on the quality of service they receive from their branches. Staff at the Society’s Sheringham branch received the highest number of complimentary comments and were rated “tops” for fast, efficient and friendly service. They demonstrated an ability to exceed customers’ expectations and identify their requirements better than any other branch in 2004.  Caroline Knowles is manager at N&P’s branch at 29 High Street in Sheringham, which will hold the award for one year. Caroline and her team, Dawn Colbrook (part-time senior customer advisor) and Lucy Ayers (part-time customer advisor) each received £150 and a bottle of Champagne as a thank you from the Society.   Caroline said: “We are thrilled to have won this award. At Sheringham we know most of our customers by their first names and they like the fact that they are valued customers and never just a number. Many comment on the warm, family-like atmosphere and they love our products such as our Gold Current Account, our independent Financial Advice Service and our range of general insurance products.

“We are committed to remaining mutual and independent and providing a quality service to this community. It is a real honour to have received this recognition – I’d love to show people why we have won the fabulous award.”   N&P’s chief executive Matthew Bullock went along to the Sheringham branch to congratulate Caroline and her team. He said: “All of our branches strive to provide the best possible service to their customers and Sheringham’s customers obviously think it’s a shining example! Well done to Caroline and her team, this is a fantastic achievement.”