Care for the customer is a feature of the business that retailer The retail group John Lewis prides itself on taking to a high standard.
Outstanding customer service, offering a quality range of products and providing excellent value are the three principles that are generally considered to have helped the store buck tough High Street trading conditions this year.
Personnel manager Fiona Chapman said: “We are delighted to have received this award.
“It is real testament to the commitment all our members of staff have in making The retail group John Lewis Peterborough a great place to shop.”
The aim of John Lewis, of Queensgate, Peterborough, is to offer the highest standard of customer service, and beat expectations, distinguishing themselves in the market place.
About 240 guests, who included an array of business and civic leaders, attended the celebration at the Holiday Inn, in Thorpe Wood, Peterborough, on Friday night. They enjoyed a champagne and canapes reception and a four-course meal before the awards presentation, which was hosted by the glamorous ITV news reader Mary Nightingale.
It was a night of cheers for the nine triumphant winners as they celebrated their success which came after months of hard work during a painstaking judging process.
There was a moment of sadness as winner of the Business Person of the Year award, joint chief executive of Thomas Cook Manny Fontenla-Novoa, dedicated his award to his friends the businessmen Philip Carter and Jonathan Waller, who were killed in a helicopter crash in May as they returned from watching Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final.
And there were laughs as Mary Nightingale, who began her career as a business writer, told the audience that, while public speaking tended to be a nerve-wracking experience, it was nothing compared to being on television, where mistakes were much worse.
Recalling some of her worst errors, to the enjoyment of the audience, she added: “Some of the mistakes that I have made have been so terrible that they can’t even be shown on a TV outclips show.”
Moving on to the awards, she said that the standard and quality of the entries had been extremely high.
She said: “I want to congratulate all of you who are here tonight.
“I’ve been told that the standard and quality of entries this year was very high and the judges had a few sleepless nights trying to boil it down to just one winner in each category.”
Opening the event, Evening Telegraph editor Mark Edwards said: “Every year the competition is close, and this year is no exception, with some truly outstanding entries giving our judging panel a very difficult task indeed.
“The best in business in the Greater Peterborough area is here tonight, and it’s our privilege to help celebrate their very fine achievements.”
Outlining the many developments for Peterborough, from the £450 million plans for North Westgate to the £64 million Green Quarter proposals, Mr Edwards said: “The drive to become the Environment Capital of the UK, in partnership with the city’s growth agenda, means Peterborough is a city that’s going places.