Many congratulations to Tincknell Heating Services – the 2018 Which? Trader of the year.

Tincknell Heating Services was crowned Trader of the year in the final award of this year’s Which? Awards ceremony. The central heating and plumbing business was established in 1960. It forms part of the wider Tincknell Fuel Group, which has been trading since 1925.

Tincknell Heating Services has been part of the Which? Trusted Traders scheme since October 2016. It’s a medium-sized business, with a team of 25 providing boiler installations and plumbing across Somerset, Wiltshire, Dorset, Avon and south Gloucestershire.

The award went to Tincknell Heating Services because of the way it has fully embraced the Which? Trusted Traders scheme. It has over 130 reviews of its services on the Which? Trusted Traders site – many of which are really lengthy and personal, detailing the excellent service Tincknell’s has provided.

The ceremony was hosted by BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty and Peter Vicary-Smith, the CEO of Which? at King’s Place in London. Representatives of each of the shortlisted traders were in attendance.

Peter Vicary-Smith introduced the award, describing the service provided by Which? Trusted Traders. He introduced the winners explaining how the judges were particularly impressed by the heart-warming review about the service provided to a customer with dementia. He commented how it demonstrates the importance of going the extra mile for your customers, no matter the size of your company.

Rob Ormond from Tincknell Heating Services collected the award. He said:

'This is down to our staff, and to our customers who have said we've done something well, which as a trader is absolutley brilliant.'

A champagne reception

All the attendees enjoyed a champagne reception prior to the award ceremony, where they mingled with representatives of Which? and the nominated businesses.

Furlonger Tree Services

The Which? Awards

Tincknell Heating Services is the fourth winner of the annual award, taking over from last year’s winners Homeglaze Home Improvements. It’s the second win for a heating installation company, as the award went to South London Heating in its first year.

The awards were established to recognise excellent customer service and cover sectors such as insurance, supermarkets, banking, retail and telecoms. Unlike some industry awards, a company cannot put itself forward for a Which? Award. Only the very best of the best are shortlisted – there is no quota.

Which? does not profit from the Awards – the Awards are self-funded and receipt of the Awards is not dependent on sponsorship or payment.

The Which? Awards are held in May each year, to recognise excellent products and services offered by companies in the UK. The ceremony is in its twelfth year and there are eleven categories, including the Trader of the Year award. Representatives of some of the UK’s biggest companies were in attendance.

Shortlists and winners are determined by Which? experts who pore over the results of our own investigations, surveys and test results to select a shortlist and overall winner in each category. Award winners are allowed to use the Which? Awards icon for one year at brand level, in recognition of their achievement and to help people make a more informed choice at the point of purchase.

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