National law firm Clarke Willmott, which has an office in Bristol, has become the first client-servicing solicitors’ practice to gain accreditation for best practice in the credit management industry.
The CICMQ quality accreditation by the Chartered Institute of Credit Management (CICM) provides formal recognition for the firm’s commitment to quality, continuous improvement and best practice in all things credit. 
Clarke Willmott’s debt recovery team has been working with CICM for the past year to demonstrate that it meets a high standard of practice.
The CICMQ accreditation covers six specific areas: credit policy, compliance, customer service, personal and professional development, performance measurement, and stakeholder management and roadmap.
The accreditation is valid for three years during which the team will undertake regular reviews to ensure standards are maintained and built upon.
Clarke Willmott is one of 59 organisations across the UK to be accredited by the CICM, which is the largest recognised professional body in the world for the credit management community.
Head of Clarke Willmott’s debt recovery team, Phil Roberts, pictured, said the firm was proud and honoured to have achieved CICMQ accreditation. 
“The accreditation demonstrates our high standards and the results we achieve on behalf of our clients.
“The journey has been both educational and rewarding and we are extremely grateful to everyone involved at CICM whose expertise has helped us reach this goal.”
The accreditation process was coordinated by the firm’s operations and compliance supervisor Kate Huish with support from team manager Anna O’Reilly.
Phil added: “Ultimately, however, it has been a team-led project that has brought about collaboration and some fundamental improvements within our business.
“We see this as the first of many steps working in partnership with the CICM who brilliantly promote and uphold standards and integrity within our industry.”
CICM chief executive Sue Chapple said the Clarke Willmott team was thoroughly deserving of its accreditation.
“CICMQ is the benchmark for best practice credit management in which companies have to demonstrate excellence in their people, their plans and processes, and in their collaboration and engagement with business partners,” she added.
“The Clarke Willmott debt recovery team have evidenced this in spades and are to be congratulated for their achievement, and in their determination to succeed in the context of a challenging trading environment.”
Clarke Willmott’s debt recovery team, which has been operating for more than 25 years, works with organisations of all sizes, including commercial businesses, insurance and utility companies.
It offers services ranging from high-volume, pre-legal debt collection through to every aspect of litigation and insolvency action.
Clarke Willmott also has offices in Birmingham, Cardiff, London, Manchester, Southampton and Taunton.
