UK-based customer service team at Lemon Contact Centre

24/7 UK Call Answering Service

Every missed call is a missed opportunity. Lemon provides a professional 24/7 UK call answering service for organisations that need calls handled promptly, accurately and in line with defined processes. As a trusted business call answering service UK provider, we ensure your customers always reach a real person, protecting your reputation and maintaining service continuity day and night.

Lemon Contact Centre operator wearing headset for call handling

24 Hour Live Call Answering Service UK

Since 2003, we have managed over 50 million calls on behalf of UK businesses across professional services, infrastructure, healthcare and regulated sectors. Our 24-hour live call answering service is built around structured workflows, defined escalation pathways and consistent service standards to ensure calls are handled accurately and professionally at all times.

Operators work within agreed scripts and, where required, directly inside client CRM and third-party systems to capture information in real time. Calls can be recorded for quality assurance, and performance is monitored through defined SLAs and real-time reporting dashboards, providing clear visibility of volumes, response times and service outcomes.

Female consultant customer service

What Is a Call Answering Service?

A call answering service is a structured outsourced solution where trained professionals handle inbound calls on behalf of your organisation. Rather than diverting to voicemail, relying on overstretched internal teams or risking missed enquiries during peak periods, calls are answered by a dedicated or shared team operating in your company name and following agreed scripts, workflows and escalation procedures.

Modern business call answering extends far beyond simple message taking. A professional outsourced call answering service can provide first-line triage, capture accurate information, resolve routine enquiries at first contact and escalate urgent matters according to defined priority frameworks. Operators may work directly within your CRM or third-party systems, ensuring calls are logged in real time and integrated into your existing operational processes.

Organisations typically implement call answering services to improve responsiveness, protect revenue opportunities, maintain continuity during holidays or absence, and provide 24/7 availability without increasing permanent headcount. When delivered within a structured governance framework, call answering becomes a strategic extension of your contact centre capability rather than a basic answering bureau.

Lemon Contact Centre operators wearing headsets for call handling

Our Call Answering Process

Every engagement begins with a structured mobilisation phase designed to ensure accuracy, consistency and stability from day one. We work with you to map call types, escalation pathways and information capture requirements, translating these into documented workflows and agreed scripts aligned to your brand and service standards.

System access and integration are configured during onboarding, allowing our operators to work directly within your CRM or third-party platforms where required. Service levels, reporting formats and escalation priorities are defined before go-live to ensure complete clarity on performance expectations.

Once live, call activity is monitored through structured quality assurance controls and defined SLA reporting. Regular performance reviews and refinement sessions allow workflows to evolve in line with operational changes, seasonal demand patterns and service improvements.

This structured approach ensures our call answering service operates as a fully integrated extension of your organisation rather than a standalone answering bureau.

Lemon agent Contact centre agents providing live call answering support
24 Hour Call Answering Service UK · 24/7 Telephone Answering · Business Call Handling · Out-of-Hours Call Answering · Outsourced Reception Service · Overflow Call Management · Switchboard Support · Professional Customer Service Team · UK-Based Call Centre · Scalable Call Coverage ·

How Much Does a Call Answering Service Cost?

Call answering pricing is structured around Lemon’s defined service packages, which provide increasing levels of service depth, reporting visibility, escalation control and quality monitoring. Costs are influenced by call volumes, call complexity, system integration requirements and the level of SLA governance required to support your operational standards.

Our Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum packages allow organisations to select the level of structure and oversight appropriate to their service model. Enhanced packages include expanded reporting, defined escalation management and AI-assisted quality monitoring within our Platinum tier. For organisations requiring exclusive resource or deeper operational integration, dedicated team models can be incorporated alongside your selected package level, providing greater continuity, control and alignment with internal processes.

Portrait Of Businessman Wearing Headset Talking To Caller In Customer Services Centre Tees Visision Media 020625 81
24/7 UK Call Answering Service · Outsourced Call Handling · Business Call Answering · Professional Telephone Answering · Structured Call Management · SLA-Driven Call Handling · UK-Based Contact Centre · AI-Enhanced Quality Monitoring · ISO Certified Call Answering · PCI-DSS Compliant Operations · CRM Integrated Call Handling · Escalation Managed Call Support ·

Why Choose Lemon for Call Answering?

Lemon delivers a UK-based 24/7 call answering service supported by ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certified management systems within a PCI-DSS compliant operating environment. Every engagement begins with a structured mobilisation process, including workflow mapping, escalation design, script development and system configuration, ensuring service is stable and aligned from day one. Our AI-powered Quality Framework continuously monitors performance, compliance and consistency, while seamless CRM and third-party system integration ensures every interaction is logged accurately within your existing workflows.

With transparent reporting, defined SLA visibility and over 20 years of experience since our establishment in 2003, we provide structured, accountable call handling designed around your operational requirements. We do not operate as a generic answering bureau. We function as a fully integrated outsourced contact centre aligned to your organisation’s standards, governance framework and service expectations.

What is a business call answering service?
A business call answering service provides professional live call handling on behalf of your organisation. Calls are answered in your company name by trained operators who capture information accurately and resolve or escalate enquiries in line with agreed scripts, workflows and service standards.
Do you provide out-of-hours call answering?
Yes. We deliver 24/7 call answering support, including evenings, weekends and public holidays. This ensures urgent enquiries are captured, prioritised and escalated appropriately when your internal team is unavailable.
Can you work within our CRM or third-party systems?
Yes. Our agents are trained to operate directly within client CRM platforms and third-party systems. This enables seamless case logging, real-time updates and structured escalation without duplication or parallel processes.
How do you ensure service quality and SLA performance?
We operate structured workflows aligned to agreed SLAs, supported by defined quality assurance processes and AI-assisted call monitoring within our Platinum package. Detailed reporting provides clear visibility of response times, call volumes and escalation activity, ensuring consistent performance management.
Are calls recorded and securely handled?
Calls can be recorded for quality assurance, training and accountability. Lemon operates ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 UKAS-certified management systems and follows PCI-DSS compliant procedures where payment information is handled, ensuring secure and compliant management of customer data.
How quickly can you set up a call answering service?
Mobilisation typically takes around four weeks, depending on operational complexity, system integration and escalation requirements. This structured onboarding phase includes workflow mapping, script development, configuration, reporting setup and quality assurance testing to ensure stability and accuracy from day one. Where urgent coverage is required, an expedited mobilisation plan can provide interim support while full integration is completed.
Do you charge per call or per minute?
Our shared bureau call answering service is typically structured on a price-per-minute basis, providing flexible cost control aligned to usage. Dedicated teams are charged at an agreed full-time equivalent rate, offering exclusive resource, greater operational continuity and deeper system integration.
Can your call answering service handle complex enquiries?
Yes. Our operators follow defined workflows and escalation pathways, enabling structured first-line triage, accurate data capture and resolution of routine enquiries at first contact where possible. More technical or urgent matters are escalated in line with agreed priority frameworks.
Is your call answering team based in the UK?
Yes. All call answering is delivered by our UK-based contact centre team in the North East of England, ensuring clear communication, cultural alignment and professional representation of your brand.
Can you provide overflow call answering during busy periods?
Yes. Many organisations use our call answering service to manage peak demand, seasonal increases or temporary staffing gaps. Our scalable shared model absorbs fluctuations without requiring permanent headcount increases.
How do you protect sensitive customer information?
Lemon operates within ISO 27001 certified information security controls and a PCI-DSS compliant environment. Access controls, call recording governance and secure system integration ensure customer data is handled responsibly and in line with regulatory requirements.
Will callers know they are speaking to an outsourced team?
No. Calls are answered in your company name, following agreed scripts and brand tone. We operate as a seamless extension of your organisation, aligned to your service standards and escalation procedures.

Only need out-of-hours support? Explore our dedicated out-of-hours call handling service.

Out-of-Hours Call Handling Service UK

Want to know more about Lemon's call answering solutions? Get in touch today.

24/7 Availability UK based Bespoke service

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