The finalists for the Customer Excellence Award, sponsored by Greater Anglia, have been announced at the EDP Business Awards 2024.
Here, we find out more about this year's finalists.
Black Swan Care Group
Founded in 1991, Black Swan Care Group began as a business consultancy for the care sector. It purchased its first care home, Nightingale Lodge in Hunstanton, in 1994.
Since then, the group has grown across East Anglia, providing care and support for older people and adults with physical or learning disabilities. All 22 of its care homes are rated good or outstanding by the CQC.
The judges said that the group “offers a truly customer-focused, personal service for its clients”.
They praised the ways in which Black Swan tailors support to suit each customer’s individual needs and said that it is “placing customers at the heart of its strategy and then consistently delivering an excellent service through its training offering”.
Crane Garden Buildings
Starting as a DIY shop in the countryside, Crane Garden Buildings in Narford has a wealth of knowledge and expertise behind it, and is still family-run 50 years on.
The business now has 14 show centres across the country and product ranges with the National Trust and John Lewis.
Its team of more than 110 employees produce high-quality timber garden buildings and offer a personalised service to customers, earning it an ‘excellent’ rating on Trustpilot.
Praising Crane’s “clear focus” on tailoring its service to each customer, and its “proactive approach to feedback”, the judges said that “the company’s emphasis on customer satisfaction at every stage, combined with its robust training and environmental sustainability initiatives, makes for a well-rounded and impressive submission”.
Hadley & Ottaway
Watton-based removals and storage company Hadley & Ottaway was established in 1928 and provides a range of high-quality services tailored to both residential and commercial clients.
Specialising in local, national and international removals, Hadley & Ottaway aims to ensure a stress-free moving experience, with purpose-built storage facilities and specialised services, including packing and unpacking, fine art and antique removals, and office relocations.
It is a founding member of the British Association of Removers (BAR), which underscores its commitment to quality and professionalism.
The judges said that a commitment to customer excellence was evident throughout the application process, and commended the firm’s dedication to “personalised service, environmental sustainability and community engagement”.
Shred Station
Shred Station launched in Norfolk in 2008 with a single mobile shredding truck and now has depots across the UK, a fleet of over 100 vehicles and 170-plus members of staff.
Its mission has always been to provide a secure, high-quality service to protect customers’ confidential information while safeguarding the environment.
What used to be just a paper shredding business is now a total waste management operation, with nothing going to landfill and neutral carbon emissions.
Shred Station’s commitment to customer excellence was clear, with the judges praising it for “showcasing a strong alignment with customer needs, innovation in response to feedback, and a solid focus on sustainability”.
To find out more about the EDP Business Awards 2024 and book your tickets for the awards ceremony on November 28 at the Norfolk Showground, visit edpbusinessawards.co.uk
To find out more about all the finalists, please click here.
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