The 2023 Staff Recognition Awards took place on Friday, 9 June at the Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness.
Sponsorship and support for the awards ceremony was provided by Story Contracting, Technology One, Wipro, E J Parker Technical Services, Sustrans and J. Thomson Printers. The Council extends its thanks to all sponsors for making last week’s celebration possible.
The 2023 Staff Recognition Awards – which took place on Friday, 9 June at the Kingsmills Hotel – provided an opportunity to celebrate excellence and recognise the talent, commitment, and resourcefulness of teams of staff and individuals across the organisation.
This year the Award categories reflected key elements of the Council's ambitious Programme – "Our Future Highland" – which is focused on being ambitious for the future and maximising the opportunities and the resources we have to improve the quality of life for people in the Highlands.
Teams of Council staff were invited to enter projects and initiatives into nine categories and all short-listed entries were assessed by an independent judging panel made up of elected members and sponsors of the event. During the Award Ceremony, the nine category winners were announced. The winning team projects for the following categories were:
1. A Fair and Caring Highland
Winners: Supporting interrupted learning
Team Members: Laura Gordon, Derek Newlands, Amanda Elvines, Alison Roberts Rodham, Chris Drain, John McGovern, Margaret Worral
2. Resilient and Sustainable Communities
Winners: Cost of living support fund
Team Members: Alison Clark, Emma Tayler, Dot Ferguson, Helen Ross, David Haas, Sheila McKandie, Julie Wileman and Allan Gunn.
3. Accessible and Sustainable Highland Homes
Winners: Housing Development Team
Team Members: John McHardy, Helen Cameron, Allan Maguire, Emma Micklethwaite, Paula Grant, Faye Dyer
4. ASustainable Highland Environment and Global Centre for Renewable Energy
Winners: Green Freeport
Team Members: Douglas Chisholm, Peter Alexander, Allan Maguire, Malcolm Macleod, Scott Dalgarno, Ruth Rountree Provan, Joanne Allday (Cromarty Firth Port Authority).
5. A Resilient and Sustainable Council
Winners: Project Dòchas
Team Members: Jon Shepherd, Dan Scott, Allan Henderson, Sandy McBride, Ally Reid, Marie MacKenzie, Isabel McLellan
6. Partnership Award
Winners: Preventing poverty through partnerships
Team Members: David Watson, Beth Simco and Beverley Hill (of the Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust); Marina Grant (Principal Housing Officer, Sutherland); Lynn Main and Angi Williams (Sutherland Housing Services)
7. Apprentice/Trainee of the Year
Winner: Michael Silva (engineer)
Team Captain/Nominator: Kulwant Singh
8. Employee of the Year
Winner: Anja Fuglestad (Catering Service – cook at Croy Primary School)
Team Captain/Nominator: Gill Omand
9. Team of the Year
Winners: Corran Ferry crew
Team Captain/Nominator: Cllr Sarah Fanet
In addition, Highland Council Convenor, Bill Lobban, personally presented an award for the diligent and effective partnership working demonstrated by the Ukrainian resettlement Team.
The winners were presented with a certificate from Trees for Life, a charity working to rewild the Scottish Highlands through additional tree planting. A Scots Pine will be planted in Glen Affric to commemorate each winning team’s success.
Officers with long-service to Highland Council were also celebrated during the ceremony and were presented with a trophy award. Awards went to:
- Di Agnew, Ward Manager, Communities and Place Service
- Ricky McNab, Service Support Officer, Communities and Place Service
- Mary MacDonald, secondary school teacher, Portree High School
Highland Council Interim Chief Executive, Kate Lackie, congratulated all staff and thanked them for their hard work. She said: “Friday’s Awards ceremony was a fantastic opportunity to recognise the excellent work of our staff and to celebrate success. It was heartening to come together to share so many great examples of projects from across the Highlands which are making a positive difference to our local residents and communities.
She concluded: “I am extremely proud of the dedication demonstrated by our workforce at a time of continued uncertainty and extend my sincere thanks to all for their continued hard work and commitment.”
Council Convener, Bill Lobban, who opened the event, said: “This event highlights the fantastic work carried out by Council staff in delivering services across the length and breadth of the Highlands. Such is the incredibly high standard of the nominations that judging the winners is an almost impossible task as every single one of them, whether they were successful or not, fully deserve the recognition they have received."
The Council Leader, Raymond Bremner, added: “The Staff Awards showcases the huge amount of talent and skill that exists across the Highlands within the Council. It is an opportunity to acknowledge where our staff go above and beyond for their communities. I was delighted to present a number of the awards and to be able to personally express my thanks for everyone’s amazing efforts”.