Success recognised and celebrated at Staff Awards Ceremony

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”.

 

Above:  Winners of the “A Fair and Caring Highland” category – Supporting Interrupted Learning.  The award was presented by Chair of the Education Committee, Cllr John Finlayson, and judging panel member Cllr Sarah Atkin.

 

Above:  Winners of the “Resilient and Sustainable Communities” category – the cost of living support fund.  The award was presented by Chair of the Communities & Place Committee, Cllr Graham MacKenzie.

 

Above:  Winners of the “Accessible and Sustainable Highland Homes” category – Housing Development Team.  The award was presented by Chair of the Housing and Property Committee, Cllr Glynis Campbell Sinclair, and Kevin Shinnie of E J Parker Technical Services (a sponsor of the event).

 

Above:  Winners of the “A Sustainable Highland Environment and Global Centre for Renewable Energy” category – Green Freeport.  The award was presented by Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Ken Gowans, and James O’Sullivan of Story Contracting (a member of the judging panel and sponsor of the event).

 

Above:  Winners of the “A Resilient and Sustainable Council” category – Project Dòchas (ICT project).  The award was presented by Leader of the Council, Raymond Bremner, and Cllr Ian Brown.

 

Above:  Winners of the “Partnership Award” category – preventing poverty through partnerships.  The award was presented by Chair of the Health, Social Care & Wellbeing Committee, Cllr David Fraser, and Stewart McQuillian of Wipro (a sponsor of the event).

 

Above:  Tracey Urry, Executive Chief Officer for Infrastructure, Environment & Economy, collects the Apprentice of the Year Award on behalf of category winner Michael Silva (Graduate Engineer (Civil Engineering)), who was unable to attend the event on the day.  Interim Chief Executive Kate Lackie and Council Leader, Raymond Bremner, pictured.

 

Above:  Winner of the “Employee of the Year” category, Anja Fuglestad (cook at Croy Primary School), collects her award from interim Chief Executive Kate Lackie.

 

Above:  The Corran Ferry crew were the winners of the “Team of the Year” category.  George Maitland, representing the team at the event, collected the award from interim Chief Executive Kate Lackie and Convenor Bill Lobban.

 

Above:  The Ukrainian Resettlement Team, winners of the Convenor’s Award, receive their certificate from Convenor Bill Lobban.

 

Above:  Officers with long-service to The Highland Council with their trophy awards.  L-R:  Di Agnew (Ward Manager, Communities and Place Service); Mary MacDonald (secondary school teacher, Portree High School); Ricky McNab (Service Support Officer, Communities and Place Service).