THE Daily Echo’s South Coast Business Awards in association with Trethowans celebrate success in eight different areas and today we look at the customer service and international performance awards.

We are pleased to announced that a new sponsor has joined this year’s South Coast Business Awards – the Winchester Motor Company and Skoda.

Managing director Mark Mills-Goodlett said customer service was an area in which his company had real expertise.

He said Winchester Motor Company had been nominated seven out of the last eight years for Skoda’s customer service award and had been winners in 2008.

“Customer service is something we are very keen on and this is a great opportunity to be associated with these awards.”

In 2014 Winchester Motor Company was named in the London Stock Exchange’s 1,000 Businesses to Inspire Britain after achieving 48 percent growth in a year.

The firm’s rapid growth was driven by opening a second outlet, selling used cars, in Aldershot, to complement the Winchester Skoda dealership.

Before its switch to Skoda in 2003 the company was a VW dealership and it retains its links with the German manufacturer as their longest-serving authorised repairer in the country.

The Winchester Motor Company Skoda Customer Service Award will recognise those companies with a genuine and innovative focus on customer service and care, who can demonstrate continuing excellence in putting customers first.

The judges will be looking for firms who can demonstrate such success, show the clear relationship between customer service activities and improved business performance and spell out a clear understanding of customer needs.

Southsea bridal boutique Creatiques was the 2015 winner when the category was sponsored by the Echo.

Home to over 120 sample dresses, Creatiques offers a personalised one-to-one appointment service with a member of its expert bridal team assisting and advising brides.

Editor-in-chief Ian Murray, who was one of the 2015 judges, commented: “Brides to be and their families are not so much looked after as they are nurtured.”

The Smith & Williamson Award for Best International Performance by a South Coast Company will be given to the firm that has best developed the international element of its activity over the past three years.

Among the factors which will determine the winner are increasing exports, expansion overseas and exploitation of international opportunities.

Paul Duckworth of Smith & Williamson stressed the growing importance of exports to the local economy: “We are seeing more and more companies in the southern region exploiting international markets, not just Europe, and reaping the benefits.”

He added that gaining the recognition of winning the award, or even being shortlisted, gave a boost to the entrants’ workforces.

“Previous winners have told us how it has greatly increased staff morale,” said Paul Last year’s winners were Clearvision, a rapidly growing Southampton software development company, which offers cutting edge software solutions for all businesses.

Judges learned that the business had expanded globally with offices now in Philadelphia, Dublin and South Africa.

The judges said: “Clearvision has demonstrated its hunger for overseas growth and its passion and enthusiasm to develop global customers was compelling.”

This year’s awards are run in partnership with Business South, Destination Southampton and Wave 105.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony to be held at the Hilton at the Ageas Bowl on July 14.