From Christmas to summer bank holidays, planned closures are part of every UK business year.
When your office closes for a bank holiday, your customers don’t stop calling. They still need answers, reassurance, or to know when you’ll be back. Without a plan, those calls go unanswered or hit a voicemail, and your “break” starts to feel like a blackout.
Holiday scripting ensures your business still sounds open, organised, and human, even when your team’s taking a well-earned rest.
Here’s why it makes such a difference.
1. Keep your business looking professional, even when you’re closed
Even when you’re closed for a bank holiday, your phone line doesn’t take a break, and neither does your brand. With warm, friendly receptionists still answering all your calls, it tells your customers you’re aware, prepared, and still present. It’s a small thing, but it shows care, even if your desks are empty for the day. That consistency builds trust and looks polished.
Compare that to a dead line or a rushed voicemail. One sounds professional, the other sounds forgotten.
2. Set expectations upfront
Holiday closures always trigger the same questions:
“Are you open today?”
“When do you reopen?”
“Is there anyone I can reach in the meantime?”
A holiday script answers all that instantly. It tells callers exactly what’s happening, when you’ll be back, and what they can do while you’re away. Plus, with real human receptionists, your callers feel heard and valued. You save time, reduce confusion, and start the next working day without a pile of missed calls and frustrated callers to return to.
3. Avoid the last-minute scramble
Avoid the midnight scramble before a long weekend. You don’t want to be recording a new greeting last-minute before a bank holiday. By scheduling closures in advance, your script activates automatically. No stress, no last-minute edits, no risk of sending callers to the wrong place or “voice mailbox full”. Just set the date and relax.
4. Give your team a real break
Everyone deserves time off. With holiday scripting, your team can unplug fully, knowing every caller is greeted with a professional, on-brand message from a real person who cares. You protect your staff’s downtime and your business’s reputation at the same time.
You’re not leaving callers hanging, and you’re not trying to cover every hour yourself.
5. Turn bank holiday downtime into opportunity
Silence can make customers drift away. A friendly receptionist answering all your holiday calls keeps your presence alive and leaves the right impression.
Holiday scripting ensures there’s always an active presence, which means fewer missed leads and more positive follow-ups once you’re back.
When you reopen, you’re picking up where you left off. Returning to business instead of recovering from radio silence.
Ready to set up your holiday script?
Holiday scripting is created in collaboration with our Client Services Team. They’ll help you write and set up a message that reflects your business tone, holiday hours, and any special instructions for callers.
Once your holiday script is saved in your account, it will automatically go live on any dates you mark as closures in the AnswerConnect app.
To mark your closures:
- Open the app (desktop or mobile).
- Go to Settings → Live Receptionist → Working Hours → Closures.
- Choose your dates and save.
If you haven’t set up your script yet or want to make changes, just get in touch with the Client Services Team. They’ll handle the rest and make sure your holiday script is ready in time.
For a full walkthrough, read our guide.
