Haringey Council wins top customer services award
Friday 3 October 2008
Haringey Council has won a major national award for customer service.
The council's bereavement services team took the top front-line team of the year award at the prestigious National Customer Service Awards 2008, against stiff competition from big names including Vodafone, Scottish Widows and Cable & Wireless.
The prize was announced at an awards ceremony at the Grosvenor House hotel in Park Lane.
Awards founder and chairman of judges Don Hales said: "The team from Haringey Bereavement Services quite simply overwhelmed the judges with their determination to provide the best service for their customers at difficult times.
"As a result of their creative thinking and innovative approach they developed an ability to cater for a wide range of special requirements and they have now turned their facility into the "bereavement service" for the local population.
"As chairman of judges for all the 28 categories, they were the clearest winners despite being up against nine other excellent finalists from a wide cross section of industry and commerce."
The team manages Enfield Crematorium and Tottenham and Wood Green Cemeteries, providing a complete cremation, burial and memorial service to the public, with its grounds and buildings open seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Ceremonies range from simple religious or 'do it yourself' funerals to Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim services, and others with a choir, bagpipes or a even full jazz band.
Manager Diane Johnston said:
"You only have the one opportunity to get it right so attention to detail by the whole team is paramount. For us it's whatever it takes to get the job done well. Our passion is to deliver 'knock your socks off' customer service, and it's great for the team to get this recognition."
One local funeral director commented: "We want to bring our families to you because we know you look after them so well."
Haringey cabinet member for community cohesion and involvement Cllr Lorna Reith said:
"This is a fantastic achievement against tough private sector competition. It shows that we can deliver customer service which is second to none."
Haringey also ran close in the WOW of the Year prize at the national awards, with customer service centre officer Diane Sheridan shortlisted for the top award.
Haringey Council last year became the first public sector organisation to participate in the WOW scheme, where members of the public are invited to nominate staff for excellent customer service. Diane has been nominated a staggering 83 times by satisfied residents.
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