Business
Half-year Results
Half-year Results.
About this update from Persimmon Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n \nRNS Number : 5520J Persimmon PLC 20 August 2019 \n\nPERSIMMON PLC\n \nHALF YEAR RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2019\n \nPersimmon Plc today announces its half year results for the six months ended 30 June 2019.\n \nHighlights\n \n\"Improving the quality and service delivered to our customers remains our top priority and I am encouraged with the progress made in the first half, which clearly shows that Persimmon is changing. Our customer satisfaction ratings for the current HBF survey year are showing improvement and I am particularly pleased that, in July, Persimmon became the first housebuilder to introduce a retention scheme for customers placing us at the forefront of strengthened consumer rights for homebuyers.\" \n \n\"The improvements to our customer service approach had two main impacts in the period. First, customer service spend increased by c. 40% year on year and these additional initiatives are anticipated to increase our annual customer care costs by an estimated £15m. Second, and as noted earlier in the year, our decision to invest an additional c. £140m in work in progress as we held back some sites for later sales release to give customers more accurate moving-in dates reduced the Group's overall sales volumes. Allowing for these impacts, Persimmon's trading in the first half of 2019 was strong.\"\n \n\"I am proud of the commitment and dedication our teams have shown in supporting the many initiatives we have introduced to deliver a step change in our customers' experience.\" \n \n\"I am confident that the progress we are making with our initiatives, our strong forward build, healthy forward sales and robust balance sheet place Persimmon in a strong position for the second half.\" \n \nDave Jenkinson, Group Chief Executive\n \nStrategic focus\n \n\n\n\n· \n\n\nImproving customer service levels \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n-\n\n\nCustomer satisfaction ratings in the HBF survey year commencing 1 October 2018 have continued to improve\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n-\n\n\nSignificant investment in improving customer care, with an additional c. £140m invested in work in progress and an estimated £15m increase in annual customer care spend\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n-\n\n\nDecision to delay sales release to later stage of c...