As the service sector bounces back after a poor month, expert says sustained growth lies with meeting demands of customers.

Customer centric business decisions are the key method of securing significant growth, according to technology company Node4 which attributes much of its success to taking this approach. The comments, from the company’s Managing Director Andrew Gilbert, come as the UK’s service sector seeks ways of multiplying growth witnessed in the last Markit/CIPS purchasing managers' index for the UK, which rose to 51.5 last month, from 48.9 in December.

The service sector accounts for three quarters of business activity in the UK and is a sector that although has seen an improvement in its fortune of late, still requires an injection that can be provided by the way services are delivered. According to Andrew Gilbert, a change in a company’s ethos to incorporate values that respect their customers and partners will go a long way in delivering the progress that is needed in the economy.

Andrew, whose company Node4 specialises in data centre and communications, said, “It is vital for any business to place emphasis on the customer. As a company we follow the philosophy of celebrated business leader Tony Hsieh to have core values that are based on how companies should treat their employees, partners and customers."

The service sector is very fragile at present and creating a culture that promotes self evaluation and open and honest relationships with customers and employees, will always benefit a company. Strong positive relationships with our customers, partners and employees are what differentiate us from other data centre and communications specialists in what is becoming an increasingly crowded marketplace."

Worries of a triple-dip recession have been put on hold after the UK’s services sector sprung back following growth in the sector. Most businesses remain optimistic about their future however due to margins decreasing and lack of consumer confidence, companies still fear there may be another dip in the future. Companies that evolve and integrate committable core values to their strategy are more likely to succeed in this tough climate.

Andrew concluded, “With the increase of business volumes, often companies lose sight of the importance of solid values. At Node4 we have gained the trust of a variety of customers due to our business ethic. This ethic has also allowed us to grow and become a company which can count heavyweight blue chip, private and public sector companies and organisations as valued customers.”