Finalists announced for this year's MJ Achievement Awards

APSE is proud to once again sponsor the "Best Council Services Team" at the MJ Achievement Awards 2022. A huge thanks goes to all the wonderful council teams up and down the country for their amazing work helping their communities through the past difficult year. Congratulations to this year's excellent finalists: 

London Borough of Enfield

A fantastic example of transforming a service, providing a modern catering service to children with a focus on climate change and nutrition. Providing fresh, locally sourced food and a higher take up than the national average this service showcases how huge improvements can be made to have far reaching benefits.

London Borough of Hillingdon

During the unprecedented challenge of COVID-19 the council’s waste team managed to improve its response to flytipping and improve work with the volunteer sector. In addition, the service managed to improve a clinical waste service and reduce its carbon footprint by improving their recycling rates, in addition to improving in cab technology. A great example of how positive change can still be made during the most challenging times.

Kent County Council

Reconnect Kent is a great way to re-engage children post pandemic, engaging them with many services including educational activities and fun days. An excellent way to support the mental health of young people following a traumatic pandemic.

Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council

A great concept, changing to a ‘food court’ style service for school meals, achieving a 90% take up of the free school meals! Changing to a wider range of foods, cuisines and increased healthy options the Kirklees school meals service has also managed to contribute towards the council’s climate change commitments reducing food waste, packaging and single use items. The service has also increased revenue while investing heavily in the digitalisation of the service.

Lancaster City Council

The community involvement and leisure team are a great example of how a multi-skilled team can provide a great service with pride. Providing more support to residents and increased access to the customer service team, the council has transformed the way it works to make residents their priority.

Newcastle City Council

A fantastic project using digital technology to support people with care and support needs. A great initiative which required a wide range of stakeholders to work together to improve lives. Utilising technology in the home they have been able to reduce falls in the home and improved the care people receive.

London Borough of Redbridge

Redbridge’s planning service managed to turn around a struggling service into an efficient, effective and highly regarded team, implementing innovative initiatives, which increased customer satisfaction, resident and member engagement and service delivery.

City of Wolverhampton Council

A brilliant transformation, well managed with great cost savings. By bringing all assisted travel provisions together into a new travel unit, the City of Wolverhampton Council have made substantial savings whilst offering a better quality service to those who are vulnerable.

Winners will be announced at The MJ's gala luncheon celebration on Friday June 24, 2022 at the Park Plaza Hotel, Westminster, London. For more information about the event: https://awards.themj.co.uk/live/en/page/home

JUDGES

• Chris Cutforth, APSE National Secretary and Major Works Group Leader, Swansea City Council
• Cllr Andrea Lewis, APSE National Chair and Deputy Leader, Swansea City Council
• Paul O’Brien, Chief Executive, APSE
• Lindsay Towler, Head of Business Resources, APSE