We’re delighted to be shortlisted for Best Customer Service at The Official UK Small Business Awards 2026

This is a very special moment for us.

From the beginning, On the Button has never simply been about software. It has been about people. It has been about developing something that sincerely helps early years leaders, designated safeguarding leads, managers and teams feel more supported in one of the most important parts of their role. When you are dealing with sensitive concerns, staff worries, family relationships, safeguarding records, well-being issues and complaints, you need more than a system. You need confidence in the people behind it too.

That is why this recognition means so much.

At On the Button, we have always believed that great customer service is not a department. It is a culture. It is how people feel when they first discover us, when they book a demo, when they ask a question, when they need help getting started, and when they need support months down the line. It is about being responsive, friendly and genuinely helpful. It is about listening carefully, explaining clearly and understanding the reality of life in early years settings.

Because our work is rooted in EYFS safeguarding and early years safeguarding, we know that trust matters. People do not want generic answers or a faceless service when it comes to something this important. They want to know they are dealing with people who understand the pressures they are under and the responsibility they carry every single day. The same is true for EYFS well-being and early years well-being. Staff well-being, leadership well-being and the wider culture of a setting all matter deeply, and we have always wanted our service to reflect that. Thoughtful support is not a luxury in this space. It is part of doing the job properly.

We also know that dealing effectively with concerns, communication, and follow-up are vital parts of EYFS and early years complaint management. In a sector where records, relationships and reputation all matter, people need systems and support that help them stay organised, calm and clear. That has formed not only the features within On the Button, but also the way we work with every customer.

What makes this shortlist particularly meaningful is that it reflects the experience we work hard to create every day. We want people to feel welcomed, never rushed, and never made to feel silly for asking a question. We want settings to be supported from the moment they first enquire, through onboarding, and throughout their journey with us. We want our customers to know that when they get in touch, there is a real person who cares about helping.

We are still a growing business, and we are proud of that, too. It means we stay close to our customers. We listen. We observe patterns. We improve things because of the chats we have every week. So being shortlisted for Best Customer Service feels especially encouraging because it recognises something that matters enormously to us, not simply as a business aim, but as a personal commitment.

This recognition also belongs to the wonderful people around us. To our customers who have trusted us, encouraged us and shared their feedback, thank you. To those who have recommended us to others, spoken warmly about their experience, and helped spread the word, thank you. To everyone who has believed in what we are building, thank you. You have helped shape On the Button into what it is today.

We know there is always more to do, and we would never pretend otherwise. Good customer service is not something you achieve once and then tick off the list. It is something you keep working at. It asks you to stay open, keep learning and keep caring about the little things as well as the big ones. That is exactly what we intend to keep doing.

Being shortlisted as a finalist at The Official UK Small Business Awards 2026 is a real honour, and we are so grateful for the recognition.

We’re proud. We’re thankful. And we’re more committed than ever to supporting the early years sector with care, clarity and heart.