Shops, banks, estate agents, bars and restaurants will soon be vying for prizes for the best sales pitches and customer care.

Businesses in Watford town centre that offer excellent service to their customers and clients are once again encouraged to put themselves forward for a Watford BID Service Excellence Award.

Now in their second year, the awards, sponsored by the Watford Observer and Murrill Construction, offer sixteen awards categories covering the main business sectors operating in the town centre area.

There is also an award for the best worker in a town centre business who continually demonstrates excellent customer service.

A judging panel will select up to five finalists for every category, who will then be subject to a public vote and a mystery shopping visit. Winners will be announced at a black-tie awards ceremony at Watford Colosseum on Tuesday, February 20.

Kwame Tefe, chairman of Watford BID said: “We are really excited to bring back the BID Service Excellent Awards. Last year’s awards ceremony was a sell-out event that we were really proud to have hosted. The competition among finalists was fierce - but friendly - and it was a great way of bringing together and celebrating the businesses in our town centre that exemplify excellence in their approach to customer or client service.

“We have made some changes this year to how the winners are decided – introducing a mystery shopping element in addition to the public vote. We hope this will be fairer for those smaller or more specialist business that do provide excellent customer service but don’t have a large customer base to vote for them.”

The service excellence awards aim to underscore an understanding of the value of customer service, recognising and rewarding those that are beacons for service excellence in the town centre.

Mr Tefe added: “It doesn’t matter whether you’re a retailer, estate agent, coffee shop or dentist, the way you treat your customers or clients determines whether they will use your services again. Rising customer expectations, and the growing trend to share negative experiences online, is putting pressure on companies to raise their game and those that do it well reap the benefits.

The awards are open to levy paying businesses in the Watford Business Improvement District area. The deadline for entries is October 13.

For further information about the Watford BID Service Excellence Awards 2018 and last year’s winners is available by visiting www.watfordbid.co.uk/excellence-awards. Alternatively contact the Watford BID offices at Suite 5 Kings Court, 153 High Street, Watford, WD17 2ER or by calling 01923 919989 or emailing jill@watfordbid.co.uk.