The Prestige Awards

The Prestige judging panel base their decisions upon areas such as service excellence, quality of the product/service provided, innovative practices, value, ethical or sustainable methods of working, as well as consistency in performance, The winners selected are those who can best demonstrate their strengths in these areas,

 

 

HOW JUDGING PANEL CHOOSE THE WINNERS

 

 

Service Excellence 

 

The judges believe that one of the most important aspects of any local business is service excellence. Many people choose a local business over a large enterprise due to their ability to make customers feel valued. Our judges have identified four key components to service excellence.

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Personalised/tailored service: In some lines of work, a 'one size fits all' approach simply cannot work.
Whether it is a consultancy service recognising the unique challenges of a business or a personal trainer adapting to the specific goals and lifestyle needs of their client, we appreciate an individual or business that is willing and able to offer a personalised and tailored service.

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Customer service: Customer service is a vital element of business operations as it has a lasting impression on the overall customer experience. At the most basic level, we expect the staff to be friendly and professional. They should also be knowledgeable about the products or services and be willing to help whenever assistance is required. Our judges are also impressed when staff are willing to go the extra mile to act beyond standard company protocol in the best interest of the customer.

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Advice & support: Sometimes a customer does not know precisely what products or services they require and will occasionally need to rely upon expert advice. We appreciate those who are willing to take the time to explain the products or services thoroughly in order to ensure the customer understands the best options available to them. This is vitally important when considering products or services which require consultations or demonstrations.

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Accessibility & responsiveness: Consumer spending patterns show that it is important for modern businesses to have an online presence. We consider how user-friendly their website is, the simplicity of their booking or purchasing system, as well as how responsive the company is to enquiries via phone, email and social media platforms. In addition to having an online presence, we consider the accessibility and responsiveness of the company as a whole. If they have a business premise, is it in an ideal location that is easy to reach?

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Employee Satisfaction

This category goes hand in hand with ethical practice. A business that places ethics and fairness at the forefront of its operation will not only acquire a loyal customer pool, but also guarantee a positive internal working environment where employees are happy, more efficient, more passionate, and committed to the company.

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Ethical Practice

Businesses are increasingly being held accountable for their corporate and social responsibility and our judging panel believes this is a positive thing. We consider the role the business plays in the wider community through charitable actions, willingness to adhere to the living wage, as well as the implementation of sustainable and environmental policies. Ethics may require the rejection of a route that would lead to the biggest short-term profit: however, in the long run, it is the most necessary attribute a business must exhibit in order to be successful and valued.

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Industry Recognition

The judges will take into consideration any evidence that the business or firm has received professional acknowledgement - be it from national award schemes, relevant industry publications, accredited boards, and even client testimonials. Whilst we expect the business or firm to have the necessary qualifications to carry out its services, we do keep an eye out for any extra recommendations or accredited certificates and/or training which separates the business from the crowd.

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Marketing & Branding

Given this category is crucial to the success of a business, it is important to look carefully at the ways in which each company goes about marketing and branding itself. Key indicators include evidence of an effective marketing strategy that is ready to evolve with a changing market or sector; how succinctly a brand ethos or mission is conveyed to customers on a company website: and originality within the brand in comparison to competitors.