HUNDREDS of organisations which provide business support and advice are being urged by Yorkshire Forward to achieve a York-based national customer service quality standard.

The regional development agency has granted customer service quality standard Customer First UK of York a total of £108,500 during the next three years so it can assess the customer service credentials of an initial 50 business support organisations which access its funding.

The campaign will urge hundreds of other organisations throughout the region which are part of networks operated by the initial 50 bodies to gain Customer First accreditation. It is part of action by Yorkshire Forward to promote all aspects of quality in the business community and make the region a national model for best practice.

Moves are now under way to take an initial wave of organisations, including business support bodies, local authorities, voluntary organisations and universities, through the Putting The Customer First standard, which has been achieved by businesses and other organisations throughout the UK.

Founded in 2004 after the idea for a Yorkshire-based customer service quality standard was conceived in 2000, awarding body Customer First UK was acquired last year in a joint partnership between QED Professional Development Ltd, Doncaster, and the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies, which has offices throughout the UK.

Frea O’ Brien, Customer First’s UK general manager, who operates out of the Eco-Business Centre in Amy Johnson Way, Clifton Moor, said: “This Yorkshire Forward campaign throws down the challenge to business support organisations in the region to demonstrate that they can compete with the best in the country.”

Simon Hill, Yorkshire Forward’s executive director, said: “We are providing this initial funding to encouraging them to achieve the Customer First UK quality standard as part of our initiatives to promote and support excellence throughout the business community.”

The announcement follows Customer First UK making major inroads into financial services following the impact of the credit crunch.