Customer service training helps Ipswich improve

Successful customer service training has helped the new business improvement district (BID) in central Ipswich receive a vote of confidence from auditors.

The BID became operational in April, and is the first in the country to invite an independent consultant to look at its progress, EADT24 reports.

The consultancy in question is New Horizons, whose director Chris Hollins said: "This approach is totally unique in the UK, where there are now some 51 BIDs in place.

"All of them commit to Key Performance Indicators and most try to keep their sponsoring businesses up to date with their activities.

"However, none so far has taken the radical step of employing external independent expertise to scrutinise their work constantly, constructively criticise and keep up the pressure to do more, better, faster and with greater effort."

The audit that was conducted gave 15 stars out of 20 for work to improve the feel of the town centre, which included the implementation of a series of customer service training courses.

The first of these was fully subscribed, and the move will help to make Ipswich a more attractive place to visit.