Testimonials
"Derek recently supported us at a very high profile customer and prospect event at Chelsea Football Club, his brief was to engage a large audience of demanding IT executives using the overall topic of Customer Interaction as his guide and there can be no question that he delivered on that brief.
First and foremost, his delivery was excellent, so often speakers can clearly demonstrate command over a topic and in doing so prove their knowledge and expertise, but the actual delivery needs to be Industry leading and Derek certainly exceeded expectations on this front, he is a natural presenter and it is really reassuring when he gets up and connects with an audience. Derek takes you on a journey when he speaks that is genuinely compelling, believable and personal, the anecdotes and stories he uses maintains the engagement of the audience and ensures that we 'stay with him' for the duration.
Secondly, it must be said that he does his homework! Derek had researched us as a company very thoroughly as well as clearly having taken the time out to research his audience and his fellow speakers, with this he was able to relate and connect with his environment in a way that shone out. He had also planned sufficiently to ensure that he kept to time brilliantly, this may seem like a small point but with such a packed schedule this was greatly appreciated.
Finally, as is always the case when Derek speaks, he injected some real fun into the presentation, what is important here is that this was done whilst maintaining the professionalism and integrity of the event, he got people to reflect on his messages and stories and mentally apply their own take on critical customer interaction issues, he altered the mood in the room in an extremely positive way and it was really great fun to watch and be part of.
Derek is a class act when it comes to public speaking in the field of customer service and I would not hesitate to book him again or to recommend him to others, he will not let you down."
Ray McGrath, Customer Services Director - Nextiraone
Dear Derek,
We would like to thank you very much for the excellent presentation you gave at our international HR conference 2009. Your input on Customer Service "hit the spot", more so as the examples you showed were easy to relate to. The audience was captured the whole time and also non-native speaking delegates could easily follow your outlining.
We also very much valued the workshop you provided following your presentation. The feedback we received from our delegates was a 100% positive which is reflected by most of them signing up for your newsletter.
We are positive that we will meet again in the future.
Kind regards,
Jutta Klassen
International HR Project Manager
SPAR International
Hi Derek,
I noticed in your newsletter that you are speaking for Business Link Wessex again and I have booked in for Winchester on 2 November. I am very much looking forward to hearing you speak again.
Since the first time I saw you two and a half years ago I have learnt so much and have had so much fun discovering the power of service. You have set me off on a great adventure. It has completely transformed my approach to business and to people in general. Thank you for providing the inspiration.
Have a great time at SOCAP conference.
All the very best,
Clive
Incredibly entertaining and insightful. Captured the full audience. Well done!
Leanne Hamley
Contract Training Manager
DHL
Derek,
Thanks for the input to our conference. It was ''awesome dude!''
What really impressed was that everything you said was good, simple common sense. This may sound faint praise but it isn't as there is real strength in saying what works and there being no sensible way anyone can disagree with the propositions made. The examples worked really well and I did see many light bulbs being lit. As ever the ideas will need to be the father of the actions and I will help to remind everyone of their affirmation for making my own little local customer service improvement .
Excellent result!
All the best
Nigel Holt
UKI - Nestlé Business Services Transition Manager
Hi Derek
Just wanted to say thank you for carrying out the start up business seminar at our Work for YOU event! spring and summer series.
It has been a pleasure to work with someone who really enjoys what he does. This shines through during your presentations. The audience really warm to you and your relaxed, informal, and humorous style of getting the facts across, involving them all the way through and hearing real life stories, all helps to build what has been a very successful event.
With your input these events have inspired, motivated, and given people the tools, contacts and information to make the next step of either making the dream a reality, or even whether to abandon the idea if the realities of running a 'real business' is not for them. It's all about helping each individual make what is the right decision/choice for them personally.
We also appreciate the fact that you are so approachable and take the time to talk to the delegates and exhibitors before, during and after the event, not to mention the mucking in and helping out with set up and even the odd advisory sessions!
So, after all that flattery, here's hoping you might be up for the next series?!!!
Seriously though it's all true, and it's great fun working with you!
Take care, and we will be back in touch again as soon as we have the new programme for autumn/winter Work for YOU! events.
Kind regards
Christine Wadey
Events Co-Ordinator
Business Link
I recently attended the ICCA - Inter Companies Consumers Affairs (http://www.icca.org.uk/) conference in Coventry and was privileged to have had the opportunity to hear and watch Derek Williams give a talk to the members regarding customer service.
From the moment Derek was introduced, your attention was captured and he held it in his hands without distraction, all the way through the allocated time. His ideas, slides, anecdotes and hints show how we in the industry can work better to improve the service that we offer by carrying out the most basic of actions.
Derek gives a thoroughly professional and friendly talk aimed at all levels from customer advisors to senior managers and directors. A lot can be learned and gained through the implementation of the thoughts and ideas that he gives.
I left feeling not only inspired and motivated, but with new ways of thinking that in turn will provide me with staff and customer loyalty for years to come.
Talking with other members, we all felt the same and the time and presentation was extremely well received and not a second was wasted of my day.
I would heartily recommend Derek Williams to other companies and believe me, you will leave, totally inspired.
Kevin Moseley
Customer Care Manager
Manor Bakeries Limited
Derek's presentation was able to inspire and enthuse the audience. It was great to see the examples of people who were committed to giving great customer service. We've all learnt something that we can take away and implement
Phil Hood
(Chairman ICCA / Consumer Care Manager, Unilever)
Derek Williams delivered the last session of the first day of our 2007 European User Conference. He is one of the few presenters I trusted to keep people’s attention that late in the afternoon. I was amazed with his ability to package a valuable message into an entertaining presentation, skillfully referencing other presentations that happened throughout the day. A very refreshing and exceedingly professional contribution to our conference!”
Claudia Remlinger
Channel & Solutions Marketing Manager, EMEA
RightNow Technologies Deutschland GmbH
Derek
On behalf of the IBM Service Management Team based in both Hursley and Bangalore I'd like to thank you for an entertaining and thought provoking presentation on "Providing Customer Service in a remote Technical Support role". You had clearly researched into the role of our Support Teams beforehand and adapted your presentation to suit the needs of our organisation - your examples were relevant, and suitably humorous at times too!
Even the complication of having to do a live video link presentation to teams across three sites on two continents at the same time (not to mention Manchester), didn't cause any problems and the amount of excellent feedback we have received from the remote sites suggests that none of your message was lost there either - the mark of a great presenter.
Thanks again for a terrific presentation,
Derek
Derek Treagus
WebSphere MQ, Brokers & ESB Customer Support IBM United Kingdom Limited
Derek,
Thank you very much for your input yesterday. The tone and the interaction were spot on for the audience and across the lunch plates and afterwards, there was much discussion as to how the ideas might be implemented. Indeed, one of the contracted providers made a specific ‘beeline’ for me, to excitedly say what they intended to do to make themselves more customer focused starting today!
I think that both you and I delivered on our promises, so thank you and well done and I look forward to working with you again in the future.
Regards
Nick Gerrard
Regional Head, Welsh Assembly Government – Mid Wales
Dear Derek,
I attended your presentation last night at the Quay Arts Centre, Newport, Isle of Wight.
I would just like to say how much I enjoyed your talk, very inspirational. My partner and I chatted for hours later in the evening as I told her of the evening. Better still, I called my managers this morning to get an action plan going. Thank you Derek, I may well call on you in the near future.
Hope you had a safe journey home.
Best regards,
Barrie Jehan.
Captain Barrie Jehan
Operations Manager/H&S Manager
Hovertravel Ltd.
Hi Derek
Not only have I already requested the newsletter, told all the managers what they missed and gave them your website. I have also ordered some CDs and just given a small rendition of your talk to our Marketing Manager.
Thanks again I feel so empowered today.
Karin
Karin Gray
Personnel Manager
Beaulieu Enterprises Ltd
"Derek's enthusiasm and passion for his subject were contagious. He had the full attention of everyone in the room from the start and they are still talking about items from his presentation now, almost a week later. Highly recommended."
Roger Bolton - Food Services Director, Bhs Ltd
"Derek, a big Thank You. Your presentation and group activities continue to inspire me that customer focus and service excellence must be at the heart of everything we do. It is particularly fantastic that almost every member of our team have personally said that the day was a great success, and their enthusiasm and motivation are absolutely focussed on improving customer service."
John Purnell - Engineering Director, Cougar Automation
"Derek,
I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you for the help you have given us here at Cougar Automation in getting started down the road of service excellence.
You may recall when you came to speak to us at our company day last September that we had just received our results from the Management Today, Unisys, Service Excellence Awards. We had come about 80% down the list of entrants, but I was heartened by your comments that we had beaten 20% of companies who were taking an active interest in service excellence.
Well, after your inspiration to myself and all of the people at Cougar Automation we have made great strides. This year we are finalists in the Service Excellence Awards. We are one of the companies selected as the last three in the Manufacturing/Engineering category. Imagine how I felt when I took the phone call!
We have a panel of judges coming in to visit us next week. You can bet that we will be trying hard to impress them.
And do you know what the most amazing thing is in all this. I feel like we have only just started to get going with service excellence. We have so much further to go. It really is very exciting to think of the level of service we can bring to our customers if we keep up this rate of improvement.
So, thank you very much for the help you have given me and everyone at Cougar Automation."
Clive Cougar Automation Limited real people - real solutions
"Dear Derek,
WOW! What a great speech you made on June 5th, to my Group 11! It was much more than a speech, it was a paradigm to greater profits and I am certain that our group will benefit from your words of wisdom, and that the bottom line of their organisations will reflect the improvements that you have motivated, in the area of customer service.
After I have organised my notes and met with my other directors, we will be putting into practise some of the points that you raised.
Thank you Derek, for a really great session.
Thanks once again, you really added great value to my group and to me."
Joe D Adams, Chairman - Academy for Chief Executives
"With Derek's help we have increased turnover by 400%"
Mark France, Practical Safety Solutions
"Dear Derek,
I am writing to thank you once again for the outstanding contribution you've made to the success of Business Link Wessex's Customer Seminars and Events.
Your involvement in the Seminars and Workshops has resulted in outstanding attendance. We have had 1693 delegates to 14 seminars (an average of 120 to each) which I am pleased to say is our 2nd most successful series to date.
These are a few testimonials from our customer feedback forms:
- 'One of those inspirational experiences that renews ones faith in the potential for business education'
- 'I can't wait to implement some of these ideas'
- 'This has been a shot in the arm and a motivating reminder of why I went into business'
- 'Useful, thought provoking and valuable client focused presentation'
I should also like to mention that the feedback from our Communications Day in May was also very positive. Our employees clearly found the session inspiring, your humour and use of anecdotes made the session the real highlight of the day.
Thank you once again for providing Business Link Wessex with the chance to WOW! our staff and customers.
Jacky Stevens Chief Executive, Business Link Wessex
"Please tell Derek Williams I thought the lecture was AWESOME!"
Tony Law, Kitchen Options
"Thank you for your commitment and professionalism - you added enormous value to our event through your vast experience and ability to link topics and themes together. Your ability to do this ensured a good flow of the presentations and content and pulled everything together nicely. The UK examples that you provided were of much relevance in the South African context and I know that delegates took away many ideas to implement in their own businesses. We certainly look forward to welcoming you back to South Africa."
Laura Nel, Chairperson SOCAP South Africa
"Dear Derek,
Re: Contractor Conference, 29th September 2004
I would like to thank you for your excellent presentation at the above named event.
Delegate feedback from the event has been extremely positive with many indicating that your presentation was one of the most beneficial aspects of the conference. Below are some of the comments we received with regard to your input:
- 'Thought provoking presentation by Derek Williams'
- 'Derek Williams 'WOW' speaker excellent'
- 'Derek Williams inspiring talk'
- 'Derek Williams - an inspiration'
I hope you have the opportunity to return to Wales very soon.
Sioned Rees Director of Enterprise Development Welsh Development Agency
"Derek inspired us to new depths of thinking on customer service and some great ideas emerged. All in all a memorable and valuable session that was also tremendous fun"
Claire Coday, Chief Executive, Business Link Kent Ltd
"Thanks for a great session at Yorkshire Water - the building blocks you covered chimed in very nicely with key Good to Great themes. I too received extremely positive feedback about your session, and as an audience they don't hold back if they see an opportunity for improvement!"
Thanks again - I'll be looking for opportunities for us to work together again.
Jon Kendall - Castleton Partners
"Thanks Derek for such an inspiring morning. I can't remember the last time I attended a seminar that flew past so quick."
Karen Lord - ASB Law
"Derek,
I owe you an apology.
When we first discussed the idea of using outside consultants to help with the Best Practice project, I argued against the idea. I was convinced that we had the people and the skills to be able to do this ourselves.
I was wrong!
You have brought a level of professionalism, knowledge and energy to this project that we could never have achieved ourselves.
Without you and your Team, the project would never have been the success that it has been.
Thank you."
Roy Hinde, Quality Director - ATS Euromaster
"I attended your presentation yesterday at The Bank House Hotel in Worcester and just wanted to thank you for one of the most inspirational and informative discussions I have ever been to."
Joanne Martin - Service Administrator, Vax Ltd
"Do lots more of what you're currently doing which is absolutely fabulous"
John Davy, Chairman, Jongleurs Comedy Clubs
"I must say the place is buzzing!"
Dave Greenall, Personal Banking Manager, Lloyds TSB
"Last night's seminar was truly awesome. It was a genuine privilege to be in the audience. "
Steve Pipe, Chairman Added Value Network
"Delegates described your presentations at our ProfitAbility seminars as 'thought provoking', 'idea generating' and 'inspirational!'"
Andy Stevenson, ProfitAbility Chairman, KPMG Reading
"Your presentation cost me about 2 hours sleep. I awoke at 4.00 am this morning and proceeded to jot down at least 10 ideas for potential improvement to our service. I was even carrying my notes around in the house in case I failed to add further thoughts that were occurring to me"
Gary Bembridge, Corporate Manager's Assistant, Barclays
"Your presentation has helped to create an understanding that we can deliver customer service with a difference"
Tim Duffield, Area Business Manager, NatWest
"What can I say! "WOW!" would seem appropriate "
David Fisher, Local Business Manager, Barclays
"I do not normally feel strongly enough as to put in writing a big "thank you" for the presentation I have attended. However, I thought that your presentation was so thought provoking that I wanted to express my thanks in writing "
Richard Witney, Senior Corporate Credit Manager, Barclays
"Guru!!!!!"
Paul Dunn, Former Chairman and founder of Ran One
"Fabulous, terrific, worthwhile, thank you"
Jennifer Reefe, Business Club Manager, Watford Enterprise Agency
"As a lifetime cynic, I attempted to remain so, but the pull and attractions was too great"
David Ward, Manager HSBC