B&Q Wins TrustMark Award

08 Dec 2011

B&Q WIN TRUSTMARK AWARD FOR RAISING STANDARDS IN TRAINING & SKILLS AT THE NATIONAL HOME IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL'S ANNUAL AWARDS 2011

TrustMark, the Government endorsed quality mark for tradesmen, announces the winner of its 'retail partners' sponsored skills and training category - B&Q for its interactive customer care training workshops, which were recently delivered to 650 employees at stores across the UK.

B&Q created the two-day training workshops for its showroom staff to ensure that their customers looking to invest in kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms got the best service to achieve their dream room.  The workshops, which included a diverse range of training techniques, was undertaken by staff including senior management within B&Q's installations infrastructure, and was also attended by a number of Directors.

The National Home Improvement Council (NHIC) Annual Awards took place on Thursday, 24th November 2011 at the Gladstone Library, London with Andrew Stunnell MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State - Department of Communities & Local Government, presenting all the winners with their prestigious awards, including Justin Adgar, National Installations Manager and Criss Shannon, Selling Advisor from B&Q.  (see photograph).

TrustMark was a sponsor of the 'raising standards in training and skills' category, which included two categories of entry - one for TrustMark scheme operators and the other for TrustMark retail partners who raise standards within their sectors.

Stuart Carter, Head of PR and Marketing at TrustMark, said: "Congratulations to B&Q for winning their award - a great example of how a retail partner can successfully improve customer service within their sector.  B&Qs entry was of the highest calibre and it demonstrated great initiative to boost the confidence and knowledge of their staff, which in turn will benefit the customer."

B&Q is the largest home improvement and garden centre retailer in the UK, employing more than 30,000 people nationwide.  It has been a keen supporter of the TrustMark Government endorsed standards for many years.
 
For further information about TrustMark, visit www.trustmark.org.uk

ENDS
Issued on behalf of TrustMark - For further information, please contact:
Georgina Watkins, Tel: 07595 158460

Notes to editors:

TrustMark

1. TrustMark is the Government endorsed not-for-profit quality mark for tradesmen. It is an independent scheme owned and operated under licence from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

2. TrustMark's website has an easy to use UK wide postcode search facility, which provides details of more than 20,000 licenced trades and has the largest database of accredited tradesmen in the country.

3. All TrustMark firms' technical skills have been independently checked through on-site inspections to ensure a high quality of workmanship and trading practices.  TrustMark is the only scheme that requires qualified inspectors to do these visits, so that technical competence is checked as well as business practices and customer satisfaction.

4. TrustMark firms work to Government endorsed standards and are able to offer insurance backed warranties and deposit protection, as well as operating a user-friendly complaints procedure.