DOZENS of Thurrock Council staff were celebrating on Friday night (10 July) when the council’s annual Staff Awards ceremony was held at The Park Inn, North Stifford.
Around one hundred people were at the event to honour success and show appreciation to staff who have given outstanding service over the past year.
Winners were chosen from a list nominated by other employees with the results announced and awards presented by the Mayor of Thurrock Cllr Maureen Pearce, Council Leader, Cllr Garry Hague and directors.
Teams and employees were shortlisted in the categories of Team of the Year, Directorate Team of the Year, Employee of the Year, Directorate Employee of the Year, Apprentice/Young Person of the Year (24 years of age and under), Outstanding Customer Service Award and The Frances Camp Award for Personal Achievement.
Presenting the award for Outstanding Customer Service, to Nkrumah ‘Monte’ Maison from the council’s housing department, was Cllr Garry Hague.
He said: “I am delighted to be here with everybody to present this very special award. Customer Service is at the heart of what we all do and excellence in this area is essential if we, as a council, are to continue to improve the services we offer to our residents.”
And Mayor Cllr Maureen Pearce presented the council’s Apprentice/Young Person of the Year Award to Danielle Miles, a Technical Support Officer with the Public Protection, Health and Safety, Licensing team.
The mayor said: “Our young people are our hope for the future and build the foundations for the next generation to come. The winner of this award is a very special young person who has made an outstanding contribution to the work of her team.
“This young lady has demonstrated a positive and flexible attitude to the work assigned to her and has shown a great deal of initiative in dealing with the customers.”
Bob Coomber, the council’s Interim Chief Executive, congratulated everyone at the event, saying that each and every one ? winner or nominee ? was a credit to the council and the borough as a whole.
Overall Employee of the Year was Chris Burgess, from Children, Education and Families. Chris, a Personal Advisor with Youth and Connexions, has worked tirelessly, often working hours outside of his normal duties, to support young people by applying for funding opportunities and running music sessions for youth offenders.
The Winter Gritting Team secured the overall team award for their tremendous efforts at keeping the borough’s major roads and streets clear during the hardest winter for many years.
Other winners
Directorate Employee Award from Children, Education and Families
Winner – Chris Burgess
Directorate Employee Award from Sustainable Communities
Winner – Ashley Corbett
Directorate Employee Award from Chief Executive
Winner – Rhodri Rowlands
Directorate Employee Award from Resources
Winner – Sarah Attersall
Directorate Employee Award from Community Well-Being
Winner – Eileen Pople
Frances Camp Award
Winner – Tony Norrington
Directorate Team Award from Children, Education and Families
Winner – CEF United
Directorate Team Award from Community Well-Being
Winner – The Rents Team
Directorate Team Award from Sustainable Communities
Winner – Winter Gritting Team
Directorate Team Award from Chief Executive
Winner – Information Management Team
Directorate Team Award from Resources
Winner -Legal Support Team
