Which are the best customer service awards to enter?
Claudia Thorpe
Principal Consultant, Boost Awards
Looking to enter customer service awards?
Whenever we run an awards strategy exercise for a client, it is clear – in almost all circumstances – that the audience they want to impress the most is customers, both current and potential.
This applies regardless of whether the client in question operates in the private, public or third sector. Whatever their remit, they want their award win(s) to serve as proof that they “provide a better customer experience” than their competitors or peers.
The challenges of the pandemic have certainly changed customer expectations, while simultaneously making it harder to meet these expectations – delivering more remote customer contact, but from home-based teams.
Despite the world of customer contact changing, the need for credible awards remains constant, you can say “we offer a superior service” in your marketing literature until you’re blue in the face. But why should anyone believe your marketing speak over similar statements made by other organisations?
Ultimately, the right award will add credibility and vital third-party endorsement to this sort of claim. Indeed, our research goes so far as to show that 75-82% of buyers are influenced by awards, with recognition helping you win and return customers more cost effectively than any other marketing investment – just so long as you win at least one. (Please contact us after reading this article to learn how Boost can help.)
So, which customer service awards are best for your company?
Four types of award to consider
1. Industry awards – customer service categories
Your first port of call should always be the “best customer service” and “provider of the year” categories within your own industry awards. Winning these requires a compelling story: one that clearly positions your achievements against those of your competitors.
Most industry award programmes offer categories such as this – particularly in business service sectors like training, benefits, accounting, IT and mobile technology, and in highly price-focused/consumer-facing sectors such as retail, banking and insurance.
2. Generic customer service awards and customer experience awards
Your second port of call should be the handful of dedicated customer service/experience award programmes currently on the market. Key ones to consider include:
The ICS UK Customer Satisfaction Awards
This scheme is run by the Institute of Customer Service, so is instantly credible. This year, there are 18 categories covering everything from Best Use of Customer Insight to Best Application of Technology. Headline honours include a Customer Focus Award for SMEs and another for large enterprises. However, be mindful that the judges for this programme are as interested in strategy and planning as they are in quantitative evidence of success. So be prepared to demonstrate this in your written submission. They remain free to enter for both members and non-members.
Region: UK I Deadline: October
Website: https://www.instituteofcustomerservice.com/events/uk-customer-satisfaction-awards/
“Our research goes so far as to show that 75-82% of buyers are influenced by awards, with recognition helping you win and return customers more cost effectively than any other marketing investment – just so long as you win at least one”
The Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service
Both credible and winnable (our win rate is nearly 100% here), these awards require a short essay of 800 words and some supporting material (or a video) – but, unlike other programmes, you are not required to make a presentation to the judges. There are over 170 categories to choose from, and each offers a gold, silver and potentially multiple bronze awards. This year sees a number of new categories for customer service achievements. They are US-based but receive thousands of entries from all around the world, with this year’s celebration set to be a held in March.
Region: International Ι Deadline: January Ι Website: https://stevieawards.com/sales
The Customer Experience Awards
These are popular CX awards thanks to the name, bestowing awards based on a two-stage judging process; half of the marks are conferred for the written entry, with the other half based on a face-to-face presentation on the same day as the awards event (or online in some regions). Originally starting with the UK edition, they have rapidly expanded into six regional editions (Asia, European, Gulf, Turkey, UK and US) as well as the International CX awards. The UK edition sees the awards finals and ceremony being held at the iconic Wembley Stadium in October, while many of the other editions feature live online finals and ceremonies. Boost consultants were judging and exhibiting at the previous physical events, so please read our comprehensive guide to entering the UKCXA and our guide to entering the International CX Awards.
Region: Asia Ι Deadline: June Ι Website: https://asiacxa.com/ Region: European Ι Deadline: January Ι Website: https://eurocxa.com/
Region: Gulf Ι Deadline: December Ι Website: https://gulfcxawards.com/ Region: Turkey Ι Deadline: March Ι Website: https://www.turkeycxa.com/
Region: UK Ι Deadline: July Ι Website: https://cxa.co.uk/ Region: US Ι Deadline: February Ι Website: https://usacxa.com/
Region: International Ι Deadline: August Ι Website: https://www.internationalcxaward.com
The Engage Awards
Originally UK-only, but now expanded to accept global entries, The Engage Awards are both well-established and fairly unique, as the only customer and employee engagement awards programme. Last year saw Financial Services and Retail sectors as the big winners, so if you have achieved great things with your engagement initiatives, then the Engage Awards are well worth considering. This year sees 20 categories spanning every aspect of engagement, with the awards being held on the same day and at the same venue as their flagship Annual Customer Engagement Summit, Europe’s premier customer and employee engagement conference.
Region: International Ι Deadline: August Ι Website: https://engageawards.co.uk/
3. Contact centre awards
It is less common for businesses – even those with contact centres – to prioritise a contact centre award programme over one focused on customer service. However, they should seriously consider these as an opportunity to impress both customers and investors – especially as many programmes include industry-specific categories. Options include:
The European Contact Centre and Customer Service Awards (ECCCSAs)
This programme might have changed hands a few times since Boost was founded in 2006, but it’s still regarded as one of the most important and biggest schemes in the contact centre calendar. The 3 categories are grouped under three themes – operational excellence, employee experience and customer experience – and there is a robust, two-stage entry process requiring both a written entry and a second stage presentation (which may be virtual or in person). Boost can assist with both of these, making the process a lot less arduous. There were also six new categories for 2022 that focussed on aspects such as automation, transformation, diversity and inclusion and best customer centric culture, all of which were highly sought-after, so expect similar recognition of the massive challenges and changes faced by contact centres since the pandemic and beyond.
Region: Europe Ι Deadline: July Ι Website: https://www.ecccsa.com/
“Contact Centre awards are an ideal opportunity to impress both customers and investors – especially as many programmes include industry-specific categories”
The Forum Awards (Previously The Customer Contact Innovation Awards)
The Forum Awards are the only contact centre awards accredited with “The Awards Trust Mark” at “Advanced” level, ratifying the robustness and transparency of their awards programme. The Forum Awards showcase successful initiatives that make operations great for colleagues and customers. Gain external recognition for your hard work, by recognising those who are leading the way. They help raise standards in many types of customer operations, from contact centres, sales operations digital channels, face-to-face service, back office and a mobile (field-based) workforce.
Choose from 4 categories – Innovation & Transformation, Partnerships (Tech and BPO), Team or Individual and complete the short application form and submit your 15-minute video. If shortlisted, you will then get more time to talk with external judges from their community of member organisations in a virtual setting. The awards celebration is when The Forum community comes together to celebrate the success of the finalists taking place towards the end of April and moving around the UK each year.
Region: UK & Republic of Ireland Ι Deadline: November Ι Website: https://theforum.social/awards
The CCA Excellence Awards (Customer Contact Association)
Also highly regarded within the contact centre sector, this peer-judged award programme features 19 categories, the majority of which are dedicated to programmes, individual leaders and great place to work/culture type categories. Again, there are two phases involved in this programme, with shortlisted entrants invited to take part in a discussion with CCA judges which provides a final score. New categories for this year include Excellence in Remote Working Culture, ESG Impact Award, D&I Champion and Most Effective Workplace Health & Wellbeing Programme.
Region: UK Ι Deadline: December Ι Website: https://www.cca-global.com/content/awards/
The UK National Contact Centre Awards
The longest-established award programme in the UK contact centre industry, this scheme is split into three areas (individual, team and organisation). Individual recognition is the primary focus, with 13 categories on offer. There are also five team awards and nine organisational ones – with topics including Most Positive Impact on the Community and Best Health and Wellbeing Programme. The ceremony is a great networking opportunity and is usually held at Old Billingsgate in Central London in June.
Region: UK Ι Deadline: February Ι Website: https://www.ukcontactcentreawards.co.uk/
The ContactCenterWorld Top Ranking Performers Awards
With over 49 categories spread across three sections (individual, company and team awards), this international scheme has a variety of deadlines dependent on the region people are entering from. Finalists are expected to attend a regional conference within the first half of the year, during which some will be expected to present (others not). Successful applicants at this stage are then entered into the global programme, with awards conferred during an international conference that’s held every December.
Region: International Ι Deadline: Various dates for EMEA, Americas & Asia Pacific)
4. Generic business awards – customer service categories
If your customer service is outstanding, not only within your own sector but also when judged alongside other industries, then you might consider the “best customer service” categories of a generic business awards scheme. As with generic customer service awards, it’s worth remembering that the judges might not know your industry and may struggle to “get” why your story is exceptional. The key, therefore, is to help them understand it.
The UK Business & Innovation Awards (The Dons)
These general business awards, while less well-established than those above, are popular and winnable, and have a number of options you might consider entering such as ‘Customer Centric Organisation’ or maybe ‘Team of the Year’. There are 27 categories to choose from, with a focus this year on pandemic response, the Brexit transition and the UK recovery. Due to the pandemic the organisers decided to remove the second stage presentations, with 100% of the overall scoring now riding on a written entry, and a virtual ceremony in July. Read our comprehensive guide to entering them in 2021.
Region: UK Ι Deadline: May Ι Website: https://ukbizawards.com/
The International Business Awards (The International Stevies)
Wouldn’t it be great to say ‘We won an international award for outstanding customer service’? These awards are global and US-based, but with a single-stage entry and over 140 categories, they are definitely both credible and winnable. There is a ceremony planned in Paris for Oct 2021, circumstances allowing, but don’t worry, attendance is optional anyway! With a huge choice of categories, you may wish to consider the Customer Service Department of the Year, Team of the Year or Executive of the Year as options. We have a comprehensive guide to entering them.
Region: International Ι Deadline: June Ι Website: https://stevieawards.com/iba
Regional contact centre awards
While perhaps not suitable or relevant to everyone, I thought it remiss to not briefly mention some of the well-established regional contact centre/customer service awards that are available.
North East Contact Centre Awards
This very well established scheme, now in their 17th year, recognises individuals, teams and organisations demonstrating excellence in the North East of England.
Region: North East England Ι Deadline: July Ι Website: https://www.necca.co.uk/
Welsh Contact Centre Awards
Claiming to be the biggest regional event in the contact centre industry, these awards, run by the Welsh Contact Centre Forum and usually held in March each year, were unfortunately postponed due to the pandemic. Winners were announced in December 2020, so expect a significantly different timeline for 2021.
Region: Wales Ι Anticipated deadline: November (based on last year) Ι Website: http://www.welshcontactcentreawards.co.uk/Home/
Northern Contact Centre Awards
Previously focussed just on the North West of England, 2020 saw these awards expand their scope to encompass the entire northern region. They also introduced five new COVID-19 resilience categories to recognise the wonderful work that has been carried out during the crisis.
Region: The North of England Ι Deadline: July Ι Website: https://callnorthwest.org.uk/awards-launch/
Next steps?
Do any of these make you think “That’s us” or “We could win that”? If so, then I recommend you let us help with the creation of your written submission. We’ve been helping businesses enter Customer Service Awards since 2006 and are more experienced than any other agency in the world when it comes to these awards. Details of our award entry writing services can be found here.
I have personally helped companies enter and win many of the awards outlined above, and have many years of experience in the customer contact sector. I would be happy to give you a call to help you double check your chances of success and explain our pricing options. You can contact Boost via our contact form or email me directly via claudia.thorpe@boost-awards.co.uk
I look forward to hearing from you.
Claudia.
Boost – a helping hand entering awards
Boost Awards is the world’s first and largest award entry consultancy, having helped clients – from SMEs to Multinationals – win over 2,000 credible business awards, including most of the customer service award schemes listed. Increase your chances of success significantly – call Boost on +44(0)1273 258703 today for a no-obligation chat about awards.
(C) This article was written by Claudia Thorpe and is the intellectual property of award entry consultants Boost Awards
Awards List
Please take a look on our UK Awards List and International Awards List websites where you can find many more customer service awards and awards for contact centres (among more than 5,000 other awards covering all areas of business).
Which are the best customer service awards to enter?
Claudia Thorpe
Principal Consultant, Boost Awards
Looking to enter customer service awards?
Whenever we run an awards strategy exercise for a client, it is clear – in almost all circumstances – that the audience they want to impress the most is customers, both current and potential.
This applies regardless of whether the client in question operates in the private, public or third sector. Whatever their remit, they want their award win(s) to serve as proof that they “provide a better customer experience” than their competitors or peers.
The challenges of the pandemic have certainly changed customer expectations, while simultaneously making it harder to meet these expectations – delivering more remote customer contact, but from home-based teams.
Despite the world of customer contact changing, the need for credible awards remains constant, you can say “we offer a superior service” in your marketing literature until you’re blue in the face. But why should anyone believe your marketing speak over similar statements made by other organisations?
Ultimately, the right award will add credibility and vital third-party endorsement to this sort of claim. Indeed, our research goes so far as to show that 75-82% of buyers are influenced by awards, with recognition helping you win and return customers more cost effectively than any other marketing investment – just so long as you win at least one. (Please contact us after reading this article to learn how Boost can help.)
So, which customer service awards are best for your company?
Four types of award to consider
1. Industry awards – customer service categories
Your first port of call should always be the “best customer service” and “provider of the year” categories within your own industry awards. Winning these requires a compelling story: one that clearly positions your achievements against those of your competitors.
Most industry award programmes offer categories such as this – particularly in business service sectors like training, benefits, accounting, IT and mobile technology, and in highly price-focused/consumer-facing sectors such as retail, banking and insurance.
2. Generic customer service awards and customer experience awards
Your second port of call should be the handful of dedicated customer service/experience award programmes currently on the market. Key ones to consider include:
The ICS UK Customer Satisfaction Awards
Region: UK
Deadline: October
Website: https://www.instituteofcustomerservice.com/events/uk-customer-satisfaction-awards/
This scheme is run by the Institute of Customer Service, so is instantly credible. This year, there are 15 categories covering everything from Best Use of Customer Insight to Best Application of Technology. Headline honours include a Customer Focus Award for SMEs and another for large enterprises. However, be mindful that the judges for this programme are as interested in strategy and planning as they are in quantitative evidence of success. So be prepared to demonstrate this in your written submission. They remain free to enter.
“Our research goes so far as to show that 75-82% of buyers are influenced by awards, with recognition helping you win and return customers more cost effectively than any other marketing investment – just so long as you win at least one”
The Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service
Both credible and winnable (our win rate is nearly 100% here), these awards require a short essay of 800 words and some supporting material (or a video) – but, unlike other programmes, you are not required to make a presentation to the judges. There are over 140 categories to choose from, and each offers a gold, silver and potentially multiple bronze awards. They are US-based but receive thousands of entries from all around the world, with this year’s celebration set to be a virtual ceremony in April due to the pandemic.
Region: International Ι Deadline: January Ι Website: https://stevieawards.com/sales
The UK / International Customer Experience Awards
These are popular schemes thanks to the name, bestowing awards based on a two-stage judging process; half of the marks are conferred for the written entry, with the other half based on a face-to-face presentation on the same day as the awards event. In 2020, due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, both elements moved online in a slick transition, reflecting how well the organisers run these awards. However a return to a physical event is planned for Oct 2021 with the presentations held a week before the ceremony. Boost consultants were judging and exhibiting at the previous physical events, so please read our comprehensive guide to entering them.
Region: UK Ι Deadline: June Ι Website: https://c-x-a.co.uk/
Region: International Ι Deadline: August Ι Website: https://www.internationalcxaward.com
The International Engage Awards
Originally UK-only, but now expanded to accept global entries, The International Engage Awards are both well-established and fairly unique, as the only customer and employee engagement awards programme. Last year saw Financial Services and Retail sectors as the big winners, so if you have achieved great things with your engagement initiatives, then the Engage Awards are well worth considering. This year sees 24 categories spanning every aspect of engagement.
Region: International Ι Deadline: July Ι Website: https://engageawards.co.uk/
3. Contact centre awards
It is less common for businesses – even those with contact centres – to prioritise a contact centre award programme over one focused on customer service. However, they should seriously consider these as an opportunity to impress both customers and investors – especially as many programmes include industry-specific categories. Options include:
The European Contact Centre and Customer Service Awards (ECCCSAs)
This programme might have changed hands a few times since Boost was founded in 2006, but it’s still regarded as one of the most important schemes in the contact centre calendar. The 31 categories are grouped under six themes – including operational effectiveness, customer experience and employee experience – and there is a robust, two-stage entry process requiring both a written entry and face-to-face presentation. Due to the current pandemic, virtual judging took place in the autumn with an online event held in March 2021. Boost can assist with both of these, making the process a lot less arduous. There were also six new categories for 2020 that focussed on ‘going above and beyond during the coronavirus outbreak’ which were highly sought-after, so expect similar recognition of the massive challenges faced by contact centres when they launch again for 2021.
Region: Europe Ι Deadline: August Ι Website: https://www.ecccsa.com/
“Contact Centre awards are an ideal opportunity to impress both customers and investors – especially as many programmes include industry-specific categories”
The CCA Excellence Awards (Customer Contact Association)
Also highly regarded within the contact centre sector, this peer-judged award programme features 16 categories, nearly half of which are dedicated to individuals or industry-specific teams (with sectors including financial services and outsourcing). Again, there are two phases involved in this programme. However, the second-stage involves a verification call rather than a site visit, which may be more appealing for time-stretched entrants and will be unaffected by the current pandemic. Winners were announced in March 2021, so the 2021 timeline is yet to be announced.
Region: UK Ι Deadline: previously June 2020, but moved to October due to pandemic Ι Website: https://www.cca-global.com/content/awards-recognition/
The UK National Contact Centre Awards
The longest-established award programme in the UK contact centre industry, this scheme is split into three areas (individual, team and organisation). Individual recognition is the primary focus, with 11 categories on offer. There are also five team awards and six organisational ones – with topics including Most Positive Impact on the Community and Most Effective Health and Wellbeing Programme. Please note the ceremony has moved from the usual slot in May to July 2021 due to the pandemic.
Region: UK Ι Deadline: March Ι Website: https://www.ukcontactcentreawards.co.uk/
The Forum Awards (Previously The Customer Contact Innovation Awards)
The Forum Awards are the only contact centre awards accredited with “The Awards Trust Mark” at “Advanced” level, ratifying the robustness and transparency of their awards programme. The Forum Awards showcase successful initiatives that make operations great for colleagues and customers. Gain external recognition for your hard work, by recognising those who are leading the way. They help raise standards in many types of customer operations, from contact centres, sales operations digital channels, face-to-face service, back office and a mobile (field-based) workforce.
Choose from 4 categories – Innovation & Transformation, Partnerships (Tech and BPO), Team or Individual and complete the short application form and submit your 15-minute video. If shortlisted, you will then get more time to talk with external judges from their community of member organisations in a virtual setting. The awards celebration is when The Forum community comes together to celebrate the success of the finalists taking place towards the end of April and moving around the UK each year.
Region: UK & Republic of Ireland Ι Deadline: November Ι Website: https://theforum.social/awards
The ContactCenterWorld Top Ranking Performers Awards
With over 30 categories spread across six sub-programmes (including individual, strategic and customer service awards), this international scheme has a variety of deadlines dependent on the region people are entering from. Finalists are expected to attend a regional conference within the first half of the year, during which some will be expected to present (others not). Successful applicants at this stage are then entered into the global programme, with awards conferred during an international conference that’s held every November.
Region: International Ι Deadline: Various dates in April for EMEA, Americas & Asia Pacific)
4. Generic business awards – customer service categories
If your customer service is outstanding, not only within your own sector but also when judged alongside other industries, then you might consider the “best customer service” categories of a generic business awards scheme. As with generic customer service awards, it’s worth remembering that the judges might not know your industry and may struggle to “get” why your story is exceptional. The key, therefore, is to help them understand it.
The UK Business Awards (The Dons)
These general business awards, while less well-established than those above, are popular and winnable, and have a number of options you might consider entering such as ‘Customer Centric Organisation’ or maybe ‘Team of the Year’. There are 27 categories to choose from, with a focus this year on pandemic response, the Brexit transition and the UK recovery. Due to the pandemic the organisers decided to remove the second stage presentations, with 100% of the overall scoring now riding on a written entry, and a virtual ceremony in July. Read our comprehensive guide to entering them in 2021.
Region: UK Ι Deadline: May Ι Website: https://ukbizawards.com/
The International Business Awards (The International Stevies)
Wouldn’t it be great to say ‘We won an international award for outstanding customer service’? These awards are global and US-based, but with a single-stage entry and over 140 categories, they are definitely both credible and winnable. There is a ceremony planned in Paris for Oct 2021, circumstances allowing, but don’t worry, attendance is optional anyway! With a huge choice of categories, you may wish to consider the Customer Service Department of the Year, Team of the Year or Executive of the Year as options. We have a comprehensive guide to entering them.
Region: International Ι Deadline: June Ι Website: https://stevieawards.com/iba
Regional contact centre awards
While perhaps not suitable or relevant to everyone, I thought it remiss to not briefly mention some of the well-established regional contact centre/customer service awards that are available.
North East Contact Centre Awards
This very well established scheme, now in their 17th year, recognises individuals, teams and organisations demonstrating excellence in the North East of England.
Region: North East England Ι Deadline: July Ι Website: https://www.necca.co.uk/
Welsh Contact Centre Awards
Claiming to be the biggest regional event in the contact centre industry, these awards, run by the Welsh Contact Centre Forum and usually held in March each year, were unfortunately postponed due to the pandemic. Winners were announced in December 2020, so expect a significantly different timeline for 2021.
Region: Wales Ι Anticipated deadline: November (based on last year) Ι Website: http://www.welshcontactcentreawards.co.uk/Home/
Northern Contact Centre Awards
Previously focussed just on the North West of England, 2020 saw these awards expand their scope to encompass the entire northern region. They also introduced five new COVID-19 resilience categories to recognise the wonderful work that has been carried out during the crisis.
Region: The North of England Ι Deadline: July Ι Website: https://callnorthwest.org.uk/awards-launch/
Next steps?
Do any of these make you think “That’s us” or “We could win that”? If so, then I recommend you let us help with the creation of your written submission. We’ve been helping businesses enter Customer Service Awards since 2006 and are more experienced than any other agency in the world when it comes to these awards. Details of our award entry writing services can be found here.
I have personally helped companies enter and win many of the awards outlined above, and I have many years experience in the customer contact sector. I would be happy to give you a call to help you double check your chances of success and explain our pricing options. You can contact Boost via our contact form or email me directly via claudia.thorpe@boost-awards.co.uk
I look forward to hearing from you.
Claudia.
Boost – a helping hand entering awards
Boost Awards is the world’s first and largest award entry consultancy, having helped clients, from SMEs to Multinationals, win over 2,000 credible business awards, including most of the customer service award schemes listed. Increase your chances of success significantly – call Boost on +44(0)1273 258703 today for a no-obligation chat about awards.
(C) This article was written by Alex Coxon and is the intellectual property of award entry consultants Boost Awards
Awards List
Please take a look on our UK Awards List and International Awards List websites where you can find many more customer service awards and awards for contact centres (among more than 5,000 other awards covering all areas of business).
Looking for awards to enter?
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