We’ve never been in the running for an award before, although I have to say I’ve never actually heard of it. The Small Businesses Good Service Award.’ Rosa got real conviction into her voice, as if there really was an award. ‘I can understand that, Mr Dredge; this is only its second year and last year was really nothing more than a try-out, but I assure you it will rapidly gain prestige in the trade. Too few people realise how important good services are to the sustaining of small business profitability. The simple fact is that twice the number of small business failures are directly down to poor service facilities when compared to marketing or production problems.’ ‘Indeed? So many.’ ‘Fact, I assure you, researched fact.’ ‘I see. But how did we get chosen?’ ‘Our business editor uses a firm that monitors the performance of businesses that fit the category of the award. He picks three of the top ones and I get sent to interview whoever is in charge and choose which one wins.’ Mr Dredge passed over the inherent nonsense of Rosa’s explanation and cut to the heart of what she had said, the bit he was really interested in.
