Herald - Issue 419

Page 58 • The HERALD • 17th February 2022 v THE NEXT HERALD IS OUT ON 10TH MARCH v LJM Bookkeeping Services I provide a range of accounting and business services to individuals, partnerships, charities and small businesses. I am licenced through the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers for the following services. Bookkeeping, Computerised Accounting Software, Final Year End Accounts, Payroll Management, CIS, VAT, Self Assessment Tax for Individuals and Construction Industry Scheme, Statutory Accounts for Small Businesses including Corporation Tax and related submissions, Holiday cover can also be provided for, hourly rates charged. Please contact Lynda McIntyre Email:  ljmbookkeepingservices@gmail.com Telephone: 07774 790543 Helen Sparks Mortgages & Financial Services Offering professional advice since 1985 Mortgages Residential Life Time Equity Release Buy to Let – first time landlords Property Portfolios Help to Buy Insurance Buildings & Contents Insurance Life Assurance Critical Illness Income Protection Private Medical Insurance YOUR PROPERTY MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS This firm usually charges a fee for mortgage advice. The amount of the fee will depend upon your circumstances and will be discussed and agreed with you at the earliest opportunity. Some forms of buy to let mortgage are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. 023 8084 4108 helensparks@btconnect.com Helen Goodall T/A Helen Sparks Mortgages & Financial Services is an appointed representative of PRIMIS Mortgage Network, a trading name of First Complete Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority ASK A PROFESSIONAL MDL MARINAS FOCUSES ON IMPROVING CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE WITH £5 MILLION INVESTMENT Each year MDL Marinas invests millions of pounds to ensure that its 19 UK marinas and boatyards o er the best facilities, both on and o the water, for berth holders, visitors and tenants. 2021 has been no di erent, with £5m spent on infrastructural maintenance and development. is investment includes £1.2m on replacing and re-decking of pontoons, providing marina users with modern, stable and anti-slip access to their boats throughout the year. All tides access to MDL’s marinas is guaranteed for another 12-months following over £750K of expenditure in dredging, with a further £500K devoted to refurbishing the onsite toilet and shower facilities, and £400K being allocated to new plant, including forkli s, hoists and boat movers. Everything spent is linked to providing a positive customer experience. But MDL is aware that it’s people, and not pontoons, who are the key to o ering a truly exceptional customer experience and the company goes to great lengths to choose the right people to join the team; talented individuals who share a passion for rst-class customer service. MDL’s investment in people doesn’t stop, however, once someone comes onboard. It’s a continual process, across all levels of the business. In 2021, £119K was spent on sta training, from safety training and plant speci c training to First Aid at Work, Powerboat Level 2 and VHF courses, ensuring that each member of MDL’s team has the skills to provide a great service to berth holders as well as exemplary customer service. And it doesn’t stop there. Always keen to support sta in their career choices, MDL o ers bespoke leadership and management training courses, as well as globally recognised marina management quali cations for those wishing to progress within the company. Demonstrating the e ectiveness of this investment, ve out of the six new marina managers in the last year were from internal promotions. “Our staff are our biggest asset ,” says Kerry Marriott, Head of Operations at MDL. “It’s the team that makes a difference as to whether we just internet connection to their boats. Developments to MDL’s website, and a new Customer Relations Management system, mean berth holders can renew their berthing agreements online, making the process quicker and easier. Additional services, such as visitor berthing and boatyard services, can now also be requested online. To further improve the experience had at any of MDL’s marinas, changes have also been made to the systems and processes which allow MDL’s marina managers to manage the quality of the marinas and make visible improvements on an ongoing basis. e new systems will increase e ciency and free up sta to be out and about in the marina, spending more time with customers, vastly improving the experience and enjoyment of a visit. Kerry continues: “The investment in IT is not visible like the investment we’ve made elsewhere, for example, in the new green initiatives, such as solar panels, waste management and electric charging points, but it is laying a foundation for the marinas to thrive and become even more customer centric. Everything we do is focused on enhancing the experience of our marinas for all.” To nd out more about MDL, its marinas, facilities and services please visit: www. mdlmarinas.co.uk Ocean Village Marina provide a service or we provide an exceptional service, offering an amazing experience for berth holders, visitors and tenants.” In addition, MDL is investing £350K in IT systems, including upgrading the WiFi to Wi-Fi 6 across all its marinas, providing berth holders and visitors with a faster