Interview With Customer Service Manager Janette Derbyshire

WO: Tell us a bit about yourself?

JD: I started off as a primary school teacher, teaching ages from three to eight. I did this for twenty years before I decided that teaching had changed so much that it wasn’t what I wanted to do anymore. I took a leap of faith and left my job! I then applied for all sorts of jobs as I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do and got taken on by Andrew and Stewart at World Options.

janette derbyshire and mother — WO: **What is your role and duties at World Options?**
JD: My current role is of Customer Services Manager, it’s my job to lead, guide, and train the Customer Services team. I also mentor new Franchises during their first year of business on any customer service issues they have. And of course, I’m here to help and support any of our Franchises with any of their queries, if I can’t answer the question I will do my best to find someone who can.

WO: What have been your experiences over your many years of working at World Options, and how have you seen the business change and grow?

JD: When I started here I was the fifth member to join the team and we were based in one room in a shared building in Rawtenstall, Lancashire. There was no online portal, all pricing was done manually from a very large arch lever file and maths was not my strong point! I remember thinking at the end of my first day that I couldn’t do this! But I did and here I am thirteen years later still here and still enjoying my job.

I’ve seen World Options grow and expand from that to our own building in Clayton-Le-Moors, Lancashire with nearly fifty staff and over ninety franchises. There is always something new happening in this industry. And exciting times ahead with MBE Worldwide.

janette derbyshire and friends — WO: **Do you have any advice or tips you would like to share with franchisees in regards to customer service queries and support tickets?**
JD: I would always say that these days when shipping out of the UK that the commercial invoice is very important — make sure that everything on there is correct with all the necessary tariff codes and Tax IDs. It can make such a difference when going through Customs.
And if a courier is asking for alternate contact details, it doesn’t mean the ones provided are incorrect just that they are getting no response on them so please do give us different ones .

snowdonia national park wales — **WO: What is your Favourite Holiday?**
JD: It’s not so much a favourite holiday but more a favourite place. I’ve been going to the Snowdonia area in North Wales since I was five years old when my family climbed Snowdon for the first time and we had to come down on our hands and knees in the mist! I go back every year, I love the mountains and lakes in the area and have some amazing memories there.

WO: Hobbies?

JD: I love nature and photography, and luckily can combine both of them a lot of the time. I often take my mum out with me as she enjoys bird watching.

These days, getting together with friends is also important. With many having children it becomes a generational get-together where we can watch the kids and put the world to rights.