BUSINESSES of all sizes have the chance to be recognised for the exceptional service offered to customers.

The inaugural Service Excellence Awards have been launched in Trowbridge and give firms in the town the opportunity to show what they are made of. The awards replace the Employee of the Year competition, aiming to look at the whole package of a firm rather than individuals within the business.

David Baker, from Trowbridge Chamber of Commerce, said: "Over the years Employee of the Year has worked through its natural course. This will look at the whole team within an organisation."

The first stage of the competition, sponsored by the White Horse Recruitment Agency and supported by the Wiltshire Times, will be in the form of moments of truth' (MOTs). Firms that come forward to take part in the contest will be given forms for customers to complete, reflecting different areas of the service offered and how well the company performed in each.

The firms involved will each get a certificate of participation and be invited to regular meetings with the chamber to see how they are moving forward within service excellence. As well as the public involvement there will also be mystery shopper visits to the firms.

Comment forms will be available to people around the town and they will be able to send them to the chamber in pre-paid envelopes.

Each firm will have to pick out a team of up to four to represent the business and the top 20 teams will be invited to meet the panel of judges in November. The judges will then pick out the top firms from those in the contest to be invited to the grand final, to be held in January.

It will be an interactive event, with business people from the town being given the chance to hear comments made about their firms.

The winner will then be chosen to receive a cash prize plus advertising space for their firm in the Wiltshire Times.

Editor Andy Sambidge, who will be one of the judges, said: "We are very glad to be able to support these awards, which not only showcase the best in local businesses but give those businesses the chance to get even better by acting on the feedback they receive."

Entries are not yet being accepted and businesses can find out how and when to enter by keeping an eye out in the Wiltshire Times.