UBCUK’s Cirencester team won a top Customer Service Award and finished runner-up in the Business of the Year category at the prestigious Cirencester Chamber of Commerce awards evening.
Jenna Paynter, Customer Service Manager and Michelle Baum, Customer Service Assistant at UBC’s Cirencester Business Centre, beat off stiff competition to scoop the top prize at the Chamber of Commerce’s awards evening on 10th May 2019 at The Cornhall.
Now in its ninth year, The Chamber of Commerce Business Awards is open to all local enterprises, large or small, and offers a chance for the Cotswold business community to shine.
UBC’s Cirencester team were delighted to take home the top award in the Customer Service category and finish runner-up for Business of the Year:
- Customer Service Award 2019: Winner – UBCUK Cirencester
- Cirencester Business of the Year 2019: Runner Up – UBCUK Cirencester
The awards were judged on a number of factors including customer testimonials and nominations.
For the Customer Service Award, the Wilts & Glos Standard asked its readers to vote for the Business or Individual that gives the best customer service, which could be any business in the town ranging from pubs and cafes to shops or solicitors.
Writing for the Wilts & Glos Standard, Sam Krayem-Wood commented:
“In a town that prides itself on friendliness and quality of service in all kinds of business, this was not an easy task! The Customer Service award winner offers high quality offices to rent in Cirencester on a business park, providing a coworking environment for all types of businesses from new start-ups to larger businesses. Nominations mentioned the excellent customer service provided by Jenna and Michelle, who always made them feel welcome and went out of their way to make sure they helped with any issues.”
Jenna and Michelle work together at UBC Cirencester to deliver a high standard of customer service and to foster a supportive, inclusive environment that helps their clients’ businesses thrive and grow. As part of their efforts, the team host regular business seminars, networking events, clinics, workshops and charity fundraising events, which are open to their own clients as well as business owners based within the local area.
As part of their fundraising efforts, UBC’s Cirencester team played a pivotal role in raising over £4,000 for Guide Dogs UK last year and in 2019, Jenna and Michelle are leading UBC’s nationwide campaign to support mental health charity, Mind, through an array of fundraising events. They recently organised a local running team and completed the 10km Minchinhampton race, and to date have hosted a number of events to raise money for Mind including wine tasting, horse riding, raffles and sweepstakes.
The team are active in the local community and support other local causes at every opportunity – such as BEAT for National Eating Disorder Awareness week, organised by Cirencester College.
Through regular events, daily support and by working in partnership with their clients – rather than a traditional landlord/tenant relationship – Jenna and Michelle have created a positive environment and a lively business hub where clients collaborate and support each other.
In addition to attracting a number of new clients over the past few months, this healthy workplace culture combined with Jenna and Michelle’s friendly, professional customer service ethos has helped UBC Cirencester reach 85% occupancy with excellent retention levels.
Heather Wrigley, National Operations Manager for UBCUK, commented:
“Without a doubt, Jenna and Michelle’s efforts have made UBC Cirencester the thriving and award-winning business community that it is today. Following the BCA award for Business Centre of the Year 2017 and now this, Jenna should be so proud of what she has achieved in Cirencester, the last 7 months being with Michelle’s efforts too.
“It goes to prove how nurturing relationships with clients and taking an active role in the local community really does pay off. In a time when competition for flexible workspace is high, Team Cirencester are clearly a cut above the rest. Well done Jenna and Michelle from all of us at UBC!”
