Pictured: Derbyshire family business WB Power Services has won the Service Excellence Award, sponsored by national training provider Positive Outcomes, in the 2011 Midlands Family Business Awards (left to right): Annabel Prow (The Wilson Organisation), Val Wilmott (WB Power Services Limited)

Derbyshire family business WB Power Services has been rewarded for its commitment to customer service excellence, in an Award scheme backed by national training provider, Positive Outcomes.

WB Power Services (WBPS) has won the Service Excellence category in the Midlands Family Business Awards, the region's only Awards initiative for family businesses and their leaders and of which Positive Outcomes is a category sponsor.

The company picked up the trophy at a prestigious dinner at Birmingham's Town Hall. Positive Outcomes' MD Chris Longmate judged the category alongside Nick Wheeler of Charles Tyrwhitt, Peter Thornton, and Hilary Campton of V Formation.

Commenting on the Award and the importance of client service, Chris Longmate said: "In a competitive marketplace and difficult economic climate, businesses ignore a commitment to service at their peril. This category, new to the Midlands Family Business Awards for 2011, recognises and rewards family businesses that can demonstrate a sustained commitment to providing service excellence, particularly those that have it embedded in the company's culture. W B Power Systems was able to demonstrate its very high standards of customer service and is a truly worthy category winner."

WBPS are specialists in the provision of diesel generators, CHP's and UPS systems to a range of SMEs and organisations from hospitals, health authorities, NHS Trusts, utility and water companies, to telecoms, banks, data centres and emergency services. Its service extends to supply, delivery, installation, major projects, testing, repairs, maintenance regimes and emergency response, for all forms of emergency backup power, supported by a 24/7 support service throughout the UK. The company's nationwide network of mobile engineers aims to be on site in the event of an emergency, anywhere in the UK, within four hours. 

The category judging process set out to find the business demonstrating it has 'the edge' when it comes to Service Excellence, as Chris explained: "What often makes the difference for a business is the standard of its customer service. There is a real skill in building and sustaining strong customer relationships, and the foundation lies in a team that knows how to treat customers. Service excellence can make a huge contribution to company productivity and longevity, and W B Power Systems was able to demonstrate exactly how superior standards of customer service are embedded in its day to day operations to the benefit of the business, its sustainability, and importantly its clients."

Runners-up in the Service Excellence category were Leicestershire family business Hallmark Consumer Services and Coventry-based Tiny Teddies Limited.

The category was one of ten in the Midlands Family Business Awards, now in their second year and run by Nottingham-based The Wilson Organisation. The Awards are a not-for-profit venture, with all proceeds going to charities supporting young enterprise and young people - The Children's Society and The Willow Foundation.

Nottinghamshire-based Baggaley Construction picked up the headline category in the Awards - The Midlands Family Business of the Year, which was judged by Chris Taylor of Smith Cooper, Mark Samworth of Leicestershire family business Samworth Brothers and Wilsons' Gary Cormack and Annabel Prow.