IN conjunction with the Institute of Customer Service, South Hams District and West Devon Borough Councils are embracing National Customer Service Week (October 1-5).

Both councils have signed up with the Institute of Customer Service to help them refine and improve their customer experience.

As part of their commitment to improve their interaction with customers both authorities will be taking part in the National Customer Service Week. This is a week-long opportunity for both private and public sector businesses across the UK to raise awareness of good customer service and the vital role it plays in successful business practices.

Cllr Annabel Roberts, West Devon Borough Council’s Lead Member for Customer First said: “This is just the beginning of our journey to better customer service. Customer Service Week gives us a kick start, with awareness raising and training for staff and an opportunity to publicise our citizen focus groups.

“We would like to encourage all residents to ‘Join the conversation’ to engage with us, sign up for email alerts about the services that matter to them, and have their say.”

From October 1, for a week, both authorities will be engaging in a series of activities which will bring the customer experience to the heart of everything they do. Much of this work, taking place within the organisation, will include: Senior Managers answering call centre telephones and manning the reception, customer service masterclasses for staff and examples for staff of both good and bad customer experiences, and job swaps so staff can get a better understanding of the customers’ experience in different service areas.

All week, the councils will be encouraging customers to follow them on social media and asking them to “Join the Conversation”.

This can be done through the councils’ engagement portals, where customers can sign up for email alerts from the services that matter to them, join a citizen focus group, find out how to submit questions at council meeting or have their say on the latest consultations.

Follow National Customer Service week via Twitter @SouthHams_DC @WestDevon_BC sing the hashtag: #NCSW18 .