Pictured above: Domestic & General Network Manager Donna Harris with Joseph Green & Doug Milburn of Correct TV

TWO PARTNERS of a Nottingham TV repair specialist firm set up their successful business after they were both made redundant in the last recession.

Joseph Green and Doug Milburn were made redundant in 1996 from the CWS television service department in Nottingham - so they set up their own business, Correct Service.

The firm, which carries out repairs on a wide range of TV and audio equipment, went from strength to strength, going from working in a small workshop leased form the council - to eventually buying the former CWS building where they were made redundant from.

The experience was bittersweet, says Joseph, now 60. "It was terrible to be made redundant, but I think that our success shows that good things can come out of a recession. I would like other people to know that if they are made redundant, it's not the end of the world - there are opportunities out there."

Joseph, who started at 18 as an apprentice at the CWS building in Carlton, and Doug now employ 17 staff. Having set up during a recession, Joseph says the company is doing well in the current downturn.

"We have the advantage of our business that we carry out repairs," said Joseph. "During more difficult times, we find that people are less likely to throw away TVs and audio equipment, and would rather get them repaired. We are also in the age where people do not want to throw their old goods in landfills and so we are getting more business from our repair service."

Joseph and Doug, age 66, say that there were in their late forties to early fifties when they were made redundant from CWS and knew that it was not a great time to lose their jobs.

"But it wasn't as awful as we thought and we set up our own business. People who are being made redundant currently should know that this is an option," says Joseph, whose twin sons Steven and Andrew now both work in the business. 

Correct Service is the main repair agent for big name electrical brands. The company, which also sells parts and accessories as well as running a TV rental service, prides itself on taking care of its customers.

Correct Service has recently gained a prestigious award in the UK's largest independent survey on customer service. The firm was presented with the 'highly commended' trophy at the 2009 Total Excellent and Quality (TEQ) Awards for coming second in the whole of the UK for its commitment to customers. Handled by Domestic and General, the TEQ awards serve as a benchmark of excellence within the repair industry.

"We are really pleased to have picked up a TEQ award," said Joseph. "I would like to thank our customers and staff for making this happen. This comes at a time of huge expansion for us."

The TEQ awards, now in their twelfth year, are based on direct customer feedback from more than 420,000 questionnaires sent to consumers after a repair on an electrical appliance. In 2008, the firm gained the Sony Service Company of the Year Award (Northern Region).