Southern Water Customer Services has been credited with the national Investors in People award.

The Government-backed training and development award sets a standard for organisations to improve their performance through a more highly skilled and flexible workforce.

It was awarded to Southern Water Customer Services for its commitment to investing in staff to ensure they are aware of and working to meet business goals and targets. This included the planning of development for individuals and teams, carrying out a well-defined and continuing training programme, evaluating progress and identifying future needs.

Paul Graham, Training and Quality Manager, said: "Training and development forms a key part of our efforts to maintain the highest levels of customer service. It is not just the business we want to benefit but also individuals on a personal level.

"We firmly believe that by fully involving staff in our business it will unlock potential and improve performance which, in turn, will benefit our service to customers."

The Investors in People award follows the creation of a specialist training unit at Southern Water's customer call centre in Durrington, Worthing. The unit includes an Open Learning centre where staff and members of their families can participate in courses ranging from computer skills and languages to bricklaying and car maintenance.

The award also comes after industry regulator OFWAT praised the company for "providing particularly good service to its customers" in judging Southern Water as the best of the water and sewerage companies for water supply and customer service at the end of last year.

Further Information:
Geoff Loader                                               01903 835620