The first customer services awards to include Bradford were launched yesterday.

The Servicemark Yorkshire and Humber Customer Service Awards 2002, which honours individuals who provide excellent customer care, were unveiled in Leeds.

Etta Cohen, manager of Servicemark Yorkshire and Humber, said: "Customer service has never been more important than now to the future economic growth and development of Yorkshire and Humber.

"The region relies upon developing world-class industries and business for its future, and every single one of those industries, businesses and organisations is dependent for success upon one vital human element - people who give their very best service to their customers."

The awards, which have been running for the last three years, have now expanded to include Bradford and district. Servicemark, which has 1,000 members, is the organisation for companies dedicated to providing top class customer service. This year's ceremony, on September 18, has 17 categories.

Bradford-based Learning and Skills Council for West Yorkshire is sponsoring the Healthcare Award - which is for anyone from nurses and doctors to dentists and vets.

Chris Bates, public relations officer for Servicemark, said: "This is the first time that Bradford has been included in this set of awards and we are very pleased. We hope that plenty of people from Bradford and the surrounding district will be nominated as we know there is a wealth of talent out there."

Etta Cohen added: "Servicemark is about customer service, customer service means customers come back, without customers we do no have businesses and without businesses we don't have jobs - that's how important this is."

Other awards include: the emergency services, retail, transport and travel and education.

Companies who wish to nominate an employee should log on to www.servicemark.org.uk for further information.

People who wish to nominate someone for their great customer service should ring 0800 169 4317.