Awards and Recognition

We encourage a culture of thanks and praise and recognise the work our employees do both formally and informally. Peer reviews and external recognition are very important to us as we are always looking for ways we can improve our services.

We have a quarterly staff prize draw (Star Scheme) where a member of staff or team that has been nominated by a colleague for doing something brilliant gets recognised and wins a prize. 

We also have a staff awards event every Christmas called the "Star Awards". This is where numerous teams and employees across the organisation get together to celebrate our achievements over the year and win awards based on how they have displayed/met our values.

Awards 2019 – 2024

Best Waste Minimisation or Prevention Project Award at the LARAC (The Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee) Awards

(Our Food Poverty Officer Helen Crouch for her school uniform swap shop project – Achieved October 2024)

                                                                    

Platinum award in the RSPCA PawPrints awards 

Our Licencing Team has received a platinum award in the RSPCA PawPrints awards for outstanding animal welfare (Achieved 2024) 

"Reuse Initiative of the Year" Award for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management

(Our Food Poverty Officer Helen Crouch for her school uniform swap shop project – Achieved May 2024)

Young Local Authority of the Year 2024

(Charlotte Smith in our Legal Team and Tom Stanyard in our Economic Development Team. Runners up – Achieved March 2024)

Customer Service Excellence accreditation 

(Our Customer Services Team – Achieved 2023) 

Cyber Essentials PLUS accreditation 

(Our ICT Department – Achieved 2023) 

Legal Services Innovation Award at the Lexis Nexis Awards

(Our Legal Team - Achieved 2023)

Best Migrated Local Authority category at the 2023 Land Data Awards for Excellence 

(Our Local Land Charges team - Shortlisted 2023)

Digital Achievement Award in the Granicus Digital Public Sector Awards

(Our Digital Transformation Team - Shortlisted 2022)

Outstanding Innovation and Collaboration category in the British Legal Awards

(Our Legal Team - Shortlisted 2022)

Legal Project - Team of the Year in Local Government (LLG) awards

(Our Legal Team - Shortlisted 2022)

LEXCEL (Law Society Legal Excellence Standard)

(Our Legal Team – Achieved yearly 2022) 

This is an external assessment which looks at our systems, processes and risk management.  It is something which law firms will often have but very few local authorities have it. 

Investors In People (IIP) Accredited  - Silver (Until 2025)

"The main focus of IIP is in leadership development, empowerment, communication and engagement with staff throughout the organisation, and I am extremely proud that we have achieved Silver IIP accreditation!

"It's great to know that staff feel valued, empowered and supported, as this is the culture that I've really wanted to encourage during my time here."

Mentor of the Year in the British Legal Awards 

(Elizabeth Warhurst, Head of Legal & Support Services  – Shortlisted 2021). 

‘Best Local Authority Recycling Initiative’ in the Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management 

(Our Waste Services Team – Shortlisted 2021). Our Recycle More Campaign was shortlisted for this award.

Junior Lawyer of the Year in the Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) awards

(Rebecca Elliott, Our Legal Team – Shortlisted 2021)

Newcomer of the Year in the Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) awards

(Kerryn Woollett , Our Legal Team – Achieved 2021)

WCGA 2.1 Web Site accessibility accreditation

(Our ICT Department - Achieved 2021) 

This accreditation means that our corporate website now meets the accessibility requirements as listed by the WCAG 2.1 governing body, for people with accessibility needs.

Maintenance Team of the Year as part of the Building Communities Awards 2020 run by EEM

(Efficiency East Midlands (Our Housing Repairs Team – 2020 Finalist)

Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award

(We achieved this in 2020) 

The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) encourages employers to support defence and inspire others to do the same. The scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.

 “FSB Best Small Business Support Offer” at the Federation of Small Business awards.

(Our Economic Development and Regeneration Team. Achieved 2019)

Team of the Year category in the Local Government Council (LGC) awards

(Our Legal Team – Shortlisted 2019)

Litter Initiative "Roadside Litter Campaign" - Keep Britain Tidy Network Award

(Our Enviromental Protection Team – 2019 Finalist)