Firm Renews Primary Authority Partnership With Denbighshire County Council

A company which sells therapy equipment has renewed a special partnership with Denbighshire County Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Denbigh-based NHC Technology manufactures products from portable pads and hand units to rise and recline chairs and adjustable beds. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Due to the nature of the business, which involves selling directly to the elderly in their homes, the volume of complaints from consumers and other Trading Standards departments were higher than usual, and it was apparent a greater level of support was required. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

NHC Technology has now renewed its Primary Authority Partnership with the Council’s Planning and Public Protection Department, which has seen it benefit from bespoke help and advice on revising and amending terms and conditions, laws and regulations, interpretation of existing statutes as well as organising training events and helping improve overall compliance. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rhys Jones, group finance manager for NHC Technology, which has been trading for more than 50 years, recently opened its Adjustamatic retail unit on Colomendy Industrial Estate. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He said: “We have benefited from advice with our terms and conditions, advertising, audits and policies and procedures. We have also noticed a major decline in complaints received, either directly to us or via other Trading Standards authorities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have our own dedicated officer who is always on hand to help with any queries or issues. She also assists with organising training events for our staff, which are very useful and informative. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have renewed the Primary Authority Partnership because it works as another staff member, they deal with any issues regarding fair trading while we carry on with our day-to-day business.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The partnership reduces the risk of enforcement action from other local authorities with Denbighshire Country Council dealing directly with Trading Standards throughout the country to resolve issues. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Hugh Evans, leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: “We now have a very open and honest relationship with NHC Technology and are able to provide advice and guidance. Since the start of the partnership, we have seen a considerable reduction in complaints regarding the business. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We commit to promptly give assured advice and in return the business commits to act on that advice. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Not only has the Denbigh store given local people the benefit of having the products on their doorstep, but it has created three jobs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Primary Authority Partnerships are part of our Better Business for All scheme which helps develop the local economy by improving the statutory regulatory services we provide in order to reduce time and costs to our business community.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​