Celebrating everyone from grandparents and neighbours to community champions and teachers, the awards’ aim is to mark some of the wonderful day-to-day activities and achievements of Islanders who help make Jersey such a special place to live.

And in order to keep the community at the heart of the awards, Islanders will be asked to nominate potential winners and be involved in the voting and judging, via the newspaper and online.

3. Customer Service Employee of the Year

The award:

THIS award is to recognise a person or company which consistently offers outstanding levels of customer service.

The winner could be anything from an outstanding call-centre team to an individual working in a large store. It may even be a one-man-band business which goes that extra mile, or an individual in a small store who offers something different and helps bring a community together.

Word spreads fast in Jersey, particularly about those businesses that get things wrong. This award is for those who go that step further in order to make sure that their customers are happy with the service they receive and want to keep returning.

The sponsor:

ANIL MOOKONI, director of Infrasoft Technologies Jersey, is passionate about customer service.

This comes from his company’s position of being one of industry leaders in delivering software solutions for the finance industry.

With customers in 36 countries and offices in 12 different jurisdictions, Infrasoft Tech believes that although it is truly global, being local is the key to success.

From training and mentoring to overhauling computer systems, the Royal Square-based business works hard to build relationships with its customers and deliver what is expected of it.

With the backing of its global HQ in Mumbai, the company is able to help customers move from a ‘very orthodox way of using technology to a more business and efficient process’.

WHY THESE AWARDS?

‘Jersey is a very good place to live,’ says Mr Mookoni. ‘I have been very fortunate to find a place like this. It is very stable, socially secure and very good place to bring up a family. And, of course, there is a good work-life balance. And the people – that’s what has always attracted me to stay in Jersey.

‘But what has been missing in Jersey has been this core celebration that goes back to the real roots of the community. The JEP has come back with this amazing series, which is a very down-to-earth celebration. I think it will be very exciting and we are certainly looking forward to it as the celebrations involves much more than just the business world.

‘We have been involved in a lot of awards, and that is something where we connect with the people, with the community. Our ethos is based on championing customer service. We have always worked very hard to improve our quality in order to make sure that our services are centred on our customers. It is so important that the customer feels comfortable, and we want to promote that. That’s why this category is a perfect fit for us.’

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN THE WINNERS?

‘They need to be very customer-centric. They must also understand what the customer needs, taking that extra step to make the customer comfortable. All these factors a important in making the customer want to come back. We would look at someone who cares, who takes the extra step to please the customer and deliver what’s wanted.

‘Also, the winner can be any type of business – small or large. In a small organisation there is a connection and delivery is consistent. Big companies need to work even harder to make sure every one of their customers gets that personal and local touch.’

• Ambassador of the Year
• Volunteer/Fundraiser of the Year
• Grandparent(s) of the Year
• Community Champion(s) of the Year
• Environmentalist(s) of the Year
• Jersey Angel of the Year
• Teacher of the Year
• Unsung Sporting Hero of the Year
• Customer Service Employee of the Year
• Young Star of the Year
• Neighbour of the Year
• and Inspirational Leader of the Year.[/breakout]

We are searching for the Islanders who make our community so special.

There are many things which contribute to make Jersey such a wonderful place to call home, from the fabulous beaches and cliff-path walks to our safe and healthy environment. They all play their part.

But above all, it is the amazing people in our community who are responsible for making this small rock, measuring just nine miles by five, stand out as such a wonderful place to live.

And that is why, as the JEP celebrates its 125th anniversary, we feel it is time to honour Islanders who make a difference, many of whom devote hours every day to make this a better place.

Often the achievements of these community heroes go unrecognised, their efforts beneath the radar of most.

Being part of that community means that the Jersey Evening Post and, more importantly, its readers, are best placed to find and honour these selfless Islanders.

It is our readers who will nominate worthy individuals and it is our readers who will be the judging panel, making the Pride of Jersey Awards unlike any others.

From grandparents and neighbours to community champions and teachers, we want to celebrate all aspects of life in the Island.

Over the course of the next few weeks, we will be featuring each of our 12 categories in detail, speaking to 12 local businesses who have teamed up with us to become our awards’ partners and, most importantly, explaining how people can start voting.

These awards will become an annual celebration of those who bind our community together and we are extremely proud to be in a position, after tewelve-and-a-half decades of serving this Island, to be launching the Pride of Jersey Awards.