25 Auto Attendant and Phone Menu Script Examples for UK Businesses

Writing a good auto attendant script is harder than it sounds. You need to be clear, concise, and welcoming, all in about 30 seconds. Get it wrong and callers will hang up or press the wrong option. Get it right and your phone tree will route calls smoothly, reduce the workload on your team, and make your business sound professional from the very first ring.

Here are 25 proven scripts organised by type. Copy them, tweak them for your business, and you are good to go.

Welcome Greeting Scripts

These are the first words callers hear when they reach your auto attendant or virtual receptionist.

**1. Simple and professional:** "Thank you for calling [Business Name]. For sales, press 1. For customer support, press 2. For accounts, press 3. To speak with a member of our team, please hold."

**2. Warm and friendly:** "Hello, and welcome to [Business Name]. We are glad you called. Please choose from the following options, or hold and someone will be with you shortly."

**3. With opening hours:** "Thank you for calling [Business Name]. Our office is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm. For sales enquiries, press 1. For existing customers, press 2. For all other queries, press 3."

**4. Including website:** "Thanks for calling [Business Name]. For the fastest response, visit us online at [website]. Otherwise, press 1 for sales, press 2 for support, or hold for reception."

**5. Multi-site business:** "Thank you for calling [Business Name]. For our [Town A] office, press 1. For our [Town B] office, press 2. For head office, press 3. Or hold to be connected."

Phone Menu and Voice Menu Scripts

These guide callers through your phone tree options.

**6. Standard 4-option menu:** "Please choose from the following options. For sales, press 1. For customer service, press 2. For accounts and billing, press 3. For all other enquiries, press 4."

**7. With callback option:** "For sales, press 1. For support, press 2. For accounts, press 3. If you would like us to call you back, press 4 and leave your name and number after the tone."

**8. Including extension dialling:** "If you know the extension number of the person you wish to speak to, please dial it now. Otherwise, press 1 for sales, press 2 for support, or hold for reception."

On-Hold Messages

These keep callers engaged while they wait for their call to be answered.

**9. Simple reassurance:** "Thank you for holding. Your call is important to us and will be answered as soon as possible. Please stay on the line."

**10. With useful information:** "While you wait, did you know that [Business Name] also offers [service]? Visit our website at [URL] for more details. We will be with you shortly."

**11. Promoting online services:** "Thank you for your patience. Many of our services are available online at [website], including [booking/ordering/tracking]. A member of our team will be with you soon."

**12. Seasonal message:** "Thank you for holding. Please note that our Christmas opening hours are [dates]. For gift ideas and special offers, visit [website]. We will be with you shortly."

**13. Queue position:** "You are currently [number] in the queue. Your estimated wait time is [X] minutes. If you would prefer a callback, press 1. Otherwise, please continue to hold."

Out-of-Hours and After-Hours Scripts

These play when callers ring outside your business hours.

**14. Standard after-hours:** "Thank you for calling [Business Name]. Our office is currently closed. We are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm. Please leave a message after the tone and we will get back to you on the next working day."

**15. With email alternative:** "Thank you for calling [Business Name]. We are currently closed. For a faster response, email us at [email address]. Otherwise, leave a message after the tone and we will call you back."

**16. Emergency signposting (medical):** "Thank you for calling [Practice Name]. Our surgery is currently closed. If you have a medical emergency, please hang up and dial 999. For urgent but non-emergency advice, call NHS 111. For all other matters, please call back during surgery hours."

**17. Bank holiday closure:** "Thank you for calling [Business Name]. We are currently closed for the bank holiday. We will reopen on [date] at [time]. Please leave a message or email [address] and we will respond when we return."

Voicemail Greetings

Short, clear prompts for when nobody can take the call.

**18. Professional voicemail:** "You have reached [Name/Department] at [Business Name]. Sorry we missed your call. Please leave your name, number, and a brief message, and we will get back to you as soon as possible."

**19. With callback promise:** "Hi, you have reached [Name] at [Business Name]. I am away from my desk right now but I will return your call within [2 hours/the same day]. Please leave your details after the tone."

**20. Sole trader / tradesperson:** "Hi, you have reached [Name] of [Business Name]. I am currently on a job and unable to take your call. Leave your name, number, and what you need, and I will get back to you as soon as I can. Thanks for calling."

Industry-Specific Scripts

Tailored scripts for sectors with specific routing or compliance needs.

**21. Dental practice:** "Thank you for calling [Practice Name]. If you have a dental emergency, press 1. To book or change an appointment, press 2. For all other enquiries, press 3. If you are an NHS patient, please have your NHS number ready."

**22. Solicitors / law firm:** "Good morning. Thank you for calling [Firm Name] Solicitors. For conveyancing, press 1. For family law, press 2. For litigation, press 3. For wills and probate, press 4. For all other matters, please hold for reception."

**23. GP surgery:** "Thank you for calling [Surgery Name]. If you need urgent medical attention, please hang up and dial 999. For same-day appointments, press 1. For repeat prescriptions, press 2. For test results, press 3. For all other enquiries, press 4."

**24. Estate agent:** "Thank you for calling [Agency Name]. To speak with our sales team, press 1. For lettings, press 2. For property management, press 3. To book a viewing, press 4. Or hold for reception."

**25. School:** "Thank you for calling [School Name]. To report a pupil absence, press 1. For admissions, press 2. For the school office, press 3. For all other enquiries, please hold."

Tips for Writing Your Own Script

If none of these templates are quite right, here are the golden rules for writing a good auto attendant, phone tree, or voice menu script:

**Keep menus short.** 3-5 options is the sweet spot. More than 5 and callers start to forget the first option by the time they hear the last one.

**Put the most popular option first.** If 60% of your calls are for sales, make sales option 1. It saves time for the majority of callers.

**Always include a human option.** "Or hold to speak with a member of our team" should be in every phone menu. Nothing frustrates callers more than being trapped in an automated phone system with no way to reach a person.

**Use natural language.** Write the way you would actually speak. Read the script out loud before committing to it. If it sounds stilted or robotic, rewrite it.

**Keep it short.** The entire welcome greeting and menu should take no more than 30-45 seconds. Callers are impatient. Every second counts.

**Include your business name.** It confirms to the caller that they have reached the right place. You would be surprised how many businesses forget this.

Not sure what to write? Lucy includes free script guidance with every order. Just tell her what your business does and she will put together a suggested script for you to approve before recording.