Bridgestone Names 17 Excellence Centres

Bridgestone UK has unveiled 17 Centres of Excellence as part of a new reward scheme for its national First Stop network of independent tyre dealerships. The First Stop Quality Program replaces the Stars initiative. Instead of being rated as three, four or five star outlets, businesses can now qualify as Accredited Centres or Centres of Excellence. The Program covers areas such as depot appearance, staff training, telephone technique and public relations, with the top performing outlets eligible for new First Stop signage, certificates, a crystal trophy and shopping vouchers. The 2008 Quality Program is scheduled to get underway in March.

“The Quality Program continues the achievements of the Stars scheme in terms of identifying and rewarding outstanding customer service,” explained First Stop analyst Stephen Lane, who co-ordinates the Program. “One of the key benefits of the new system is that dealers can monitor their level of performance via a secure web site, and therefore spot the areas they need to improve in if they are to attain ‘Centre of Excellence’ status.

The first dealerships to be named Centres of Excellence are Shaw Tyres & Exhaust, Tyre Spot Ltd, Bangor Tyre Service, BMTR, Steve Andrews Tyres, Denmead Tyre Services, Guildford Tyre Company, Pan Autos, Roadwheel Tyre & Exhaust, Setyres (x four outlets), Tanvic Tyres (x two outlets), and Watling Tyre Service (x two outlets). A further 65 outlets have been named Accredited Centres.