The Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) has won an award for the way it responded to a fire that destroyed its Hemel Hempstead headquarters in January.

The scheme won the CIR Business Continuity Award for ‘Most Effective Recovery’ – beating competition from Allianz Insurance, CMAC Group and First Central Insurance & Technology Group – recognising the way it continued operating in the aftermath of the fire.

All 89 staff were evacuated from the fire safely with no casualties.

Its phone lines and emails were down from 4.30pm on the day of the fire to the afternoon of the next day.

Staff were relocated to a number of local sites to support customers or worked from home and managed to continue operating by logging in to remote servers.

By midday after the fire, TDS’ own call answering target time of 30 seconds had been met and bettered, at just 27 seconds, TDS said.

A spokesman said the cause of the fire was still unknown.

Staff continue to work in Hemel Hempstead at interim accommodation and a new permanent site is planned in the area for early August.

Steve Harriott, chief executive of TDS, said: “As a result of meticulous planning and a world-class team effort, the crisis was overcome within a matter of hours.

“It’s a source of great pride that we have been recognised at awards that are not just limited to those working in the private rented sector, but across multiple areas of business. You go to great efforts to ensure that, should the worst happen, you’re prepared, but you don’t imagine that you’ll ever have to put these measures in to practice.

“In the face of adversity, when it looks like all is lost, it takes a special kind of team to be able to pick themselves up and come back tougher – that’s just what the TDS team did.”

He added: “Usually we like to retain awards each year, but we’re not looking to get this award again.”

Huge Fire in Commerical offices near ours on Mark Road in Hemel Hempstead today. Hope everyone’s ok. #HemelHempstead pic.twitter.com/fezMRL1kiU

— Paul Warren (@PaulWarren_uk) January 9, 2019