Winners Archive & Interviews

Congratulations to our winners of 2024. Check out the winners' brochure here

A Whole-Council Approach to Tackling Health Inequalities

Winner: London Borough of Hounslow

Hounslow residents face barriers to good health largely caused by inadequate healthcare access, socioeconomic factors, environmental issues, and individual behaviours which reinforce health inequalities.

Key problems include uneven service distribution, transport reliability, language and cultural barriers, digital exclusion, high deprivation, unemployment, social isolation, air and noise pollution and unhealthy lifestyles. This causes rising chronic illnesses, high obesity, mental health issues and substance misuse. The Council implements coordinated initiatives across transport, communications, translation, training, community support, housing, environment, social care, public health, and digital inclusion to address these barriers and inequalities (e.g. improving early years and mental health and health services and assisting independence). The Council's governance documents show improving health and equity are priorities. The Corporate Plan provides values guiding decision-making while the Health and Wellbeing Strategy focuses on prevention and early intervention.

The Borough-Based Partnership brings together health, social care, and Council services for an integrated, effective system. The partnerships formed by the Digital Inclusion for Social and Health Impact (DISH) project - between the Council and NHS Trust, to make digital health services more inclusive by reducing digital inequalities. Innovative approaches developed included joint-working, co-production arrangements, targeted community engagement, place-based analysis, customised resources and expanded device access.

Outcomes included: closer ties; transformed services; enhanced insights and external funding bids. Achievements delivered included creation of a shared vision and leadership, increased volunteering, analytical processes, wider consultation shaping services, and sustainability measures across governance, communications, and integration foundations – ensuring local health is a clear priority across service areas.

Highly commended: Durham County Council & West Northamptonshire Council

Best Council Services Team

Winner: Stoke-on-Trent City Council

Stoke-on-Trent's groundbreaking collaboration with JCB for highway repairs merits consideration for an award. The bid excels in People, Performance, and Planet, showcasing improved community and employee well-being, enhanced safety, and skill development. Impressive performance metrics include increased work efficiency, cost savings, and reduced time on site, emphasising a commitment to long-term quality and cost-effectiveness, aligning with global environmental goals, and achieving a significant 35% reduction in emissions. Media links and testimonials supported the bid's success, emphasising Stoke-on-Trent's holistic approach to infrastructure management and how it contributes to community and economic prosperity.

Highly commended: Liverpool City Council

Innovation in Housing

Winner: North Tyneside Council

North Tyneside Council set out with an ambitious vision to overturn a number of under-used garage sites into homes for over 55’s in an area of high housing demand. Using their patented product, HUSK provides a turn-key solution, delivering sought-after bungalows in the middle of an already thriving estate.

The bungalows offer tenants a highly efficient fabric which contributes to lower energy bills and utilises Air Source Heat Pump and Solar PV technologies. With our first HUSK development complete at Falmouth Close in North Shields, Phase 2 in Wallsend has recently been completed and we continue to explore our other garage sites for future development.

The innovative HUSK designs retain the concrete bases of garage blocks, minimising ground preparation other than service connections. This overcomes sub-ground issues and by using the existing footprint of the garages, it also negates planning issues with overlooking distances.

The development demonstrates the ambition of both the Council and HUSK to create great places where people want to live. It is a perfect example of finding an innovative solution to regenerate brownfield sites that have previously been deemed undevelopable. Working with HUSK, North Tyneside Council has used innovation to redesign and redevelop under-used and disused former garage sites into high-quality, affordable homes for local people in an area of high housing demand.

The homes are fully accessible and meet the current Nationally Described Space Standards ensuring generous spaces throughout. Increased insulation ensures that running costs are kept as low as possible for our tenants.

Highly commended: Lancashire County Council

Best Transport Decarbonisation Project

Winner: Essex County Council

Essex Pedal Power (EPP) is a community-based initiative led by Active Essex, The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) and Essex County Council's Sustainable Transport and Localities Teams, and funded by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP), Sport England, NE Essex NHS Integrated Care Board, and ECC Levelling Up fund for £3,179,322.

The aim of Essex Pedal Power is to provide communities in some of the most deprived parts of Essex with free bicycles on a loan-to-give-away basis, subject to regular use.

The bicycles support residents to become more physically active, whilst also enabling them to travel to work, school and leisure activities at low cost, both financially and sustainably.

Specific areas of deprivation in Essex have been targeted, thereby addressing the environmental aspect of decarbonising local transport and the socio-economic challenges communities face.

The target is to provide over 5,000 bikes by 2025 in the six Levelling Up areas recognised by Essex County Council. These are Tendring, Basildon housing estates, Colchester housing estates, Harlow, Rural Braintree and Canvey Island.

So far, 797 applicants have been provided with high-quality bikes, each of which is dynamo-GPS tracked. Bikes are initially loaned to participants for 12 months. However, if a bike is used regularly, participants can keep it permanently.

The programme also provides free training for residents to learn to cycle and carry out basic bike maintenance and is creating community cycling groups.

Highly commended: London Borough of Waltham Forest

Care and Health Integration

Winner: City of Wolverhampton Council

Putting people at the centre in Wolverhampton has delivered innovative and proactive approaches to supporting people at the toughest time of year.

Winter is renowned for being a challenging time across health and social care, with many services experiencing increased demand. However, a different approach has been taken in Wolverhampton that has delivered closer joint working to better support the needs of individuals and manage demand across the system.

A joint Winter Plan has been created through the city’s Place-based Partnership, OneWolverhampton, that has reduced hospital admissions and ensured people were able to return to the place they call home at the safest, earliest opportunity. This has included engaging partners from across the city, including the local authority, the acute provider, mental health services and the community and voluntary sector to trial a range of innovative services.

What sets the approach apart is how partners have taken a joint approach to funding and used it in innovative ways to test out new ways of working, such as dedicated welfare rights and social workers within mental health acute settings, a social prescribing in-reach service within the discharge lounge of the acute trust, and bespoke training events with care homes in the city.

This approach enabled innovation and learning and against a backdrop of declining local and national performance, Wolverhampton has been able to significantly reduce its ambulance handover delays and also significantly reduce the number of individuals with No Criteria to Reside (NCTR) in acute settings.

Highly commended: Essex Cares Limited

Chief Executive of the Year

Winner: Maxine O’Mahony - Breckland Council

Always a progressive leader and with her coaching mindset steering her forwards, Max’s commitment to a new operational model, utilising partnership for the successful delivery of targeted projects and schemes in support of the much-needed services across Breckland makes her an outstanding Chief Executive and exemplary in the field of modern leadership.

When it comes to people development, Max is passionate about growing our own talent and empowering them to reach their potential. Max has grasped the challenge of being a Chief Executive with a drive and determination that sets her aside from her peers. Having done so, she is keen to support and enable those around her to develop and progress within the sector, helping to provide a long-term source of talent. She is a true Modern Chief Executive of the Year.

Community Engagement

Winner: Jonathan Henderson - Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council

Jonathan Henderson is the epitome of a public servant, bringing continued enthusiasm, creativity and innovation to his role whilst inspiring others. His work covers a wide breadth and depth as Community Services Co-ordinator, from delivering £1 million in community grant aid, to engaging in potentially contentious bonfires, doubling participating sites in local Bonfire Protocol to reduce environmental and people antisocial behaviours. He successfully introduced 6 beacons in replacement of traditional bonfires. His work at Christmas to deliver an innovative, environmentally themed Christmas community programme incorporating a new host venue.

Highly commended: Durham County Council & London Borough of Haringey

Corporate Director of the Year

Winner: Bernie Enright - Manchester City Council

Bernie arrived in Manchester at a challenging moment – with the introduction of health integration and long-term pressures on social care. However, her work is personified by a strengths-based, collaborative and data-driven approach to achieve the best outcomes for residents and Manchester. Better Outcomes, Better Lives is recognised as a national best practice. She has had an impact both nationally and locally, but perhaps more importantly, she has done so with a smile.

Highly commended: Sarah Hammond - Kent County Council

Delivering Better Outcomes

Winner: London Borough of Haringey

Haringey Council won for the scale and ambition of its need-led programme which aims to build 3,000 council homes by 2031. With 2,118 new council homes completed or underway, with 500 more expected to be completed by summer 2024, more residents will soon echo one mother’s words: “my daughter fell in love with the house, her dream home”.

Haringey’s programme uses Innovative technologies and careful design to deliver sustainable homes to tackle climate change, bespoke homes adapted for tenants’ specific needs, family-sized homes and placemaking, and empowers residents with extensive community engagement. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, describes Haringey’s approach as “a game-changer”.

Highly commended: Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council & Plymouth City Council

Digital Transformation

Winner: Dumfries and Galloway Council

@SWConnects is an effective digital delivery model for qualifications across all secondary schools in Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire Councils.

We embedded existing technology to bring about real change in broadening the curriculum to meet future needs. Learning through @SWConnects addressed inequity of subject choice in rural areas where resources prevented offering a range of Advanced Highers in all schools.

Analysis showed that schools with a limited offer had proportionately higher numbers of children from poorer households. This collaboration has designed a sustainable digital solution, with results and pupil evaluation comparing well to class-based teaching.

Highly commended: Dorset Council & Aberdeen City Council

Innovation in Building Diversity and Inclusion

Winner: Essex Cares Limited

The East of England Co-op is the largest independent retailer operating in the East of England. Proving food stores and specialist services, such as funerals, security, travel and petrol filling stations to communities across Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.

As a co-operative business, it puts its members first. Its focus has always been, and always will be, the local communities in the areas it serves. This community-centred approach makes it the ideal partner for ECL’s Inclusive Employment initiative, which supports people with learning disabilities and/autism to achieve their ambitions of meaningful, paid employment.

ECL’s Inclusive Employment service matches talented individuals to meet the needs of businesses, creating a successful working relationship that enables the candidate to develop their skills and achieve their goal of becoming more independent. They provide on-the-job coaching and mentoring for as long as is needed to ensure that both the individual and the employer have the best experience.

In July 2022, the East of England Co-op and ECL formed a dynamic partnership that has already gained considerable momentum. Eighteen months on, both organisations are helping people in Essex with learning disabilities and autism achieve their ambitions of paid employment with great success.

Highly commended: Aberdeenshire Council & Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council

Innovation in Children’s and Adults' Services

Winner: Oxfordshire County Council

Oxfordshire County Council’s Banbury Community Support Service (CSS) is the perfect example of a team using innovation and coproduction to develop programmes that make a real difference to the people they support.

The service supports adults with additional needs, including people with learning disabilities, autism and dementia, offering day sessions that enabling them to live happy, fulfilling lives.

Staff work alongside the adults who use the service, regularly asking them what changes could be made to make their centre even better. And in spring last year, the proposal was made for a new, inclusive ‘pub room’ to be created.

For the adults who use the centre, a space where they could relax, have fun and socialise is something they really missed.

By working together, thinking innovatively and using new and established community connections, Cheers M’Dears pub opened in June 2023, at no cost to the council.

It is regularly used by the people who come to the centre and is hired out privately by adults with additional needs, allowing them to celebrate special occasions in this accessible and joyful space.

Service users, GU and AC commented: “I like going to our pub room on a Friday, it lifts my spirits to be with friends, it always feels fun and safe’’ and "the pub room is easy to get around. I can get inside easily with my wheelchair. It is a happy place to have a drink and a chat amongst friends."

Highly commended: Pembrokeshire County Council

Innovation in Delivering Sustainability and Social Value

Winner: North London Waste Authority

North London Waste Authority (NLWA) is a local authority and a partnership of seven councils (Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, Hackney, Islington, Waltham Forest) serving 2 million residents. Developed by NLWA, the North London Heat and Power Project is a ground-breaking initiative exemplifying innovation and commitment to environmental and social responsibility.
The NLHPP, situated at Edmonton EcoPark, replaces the existing energy-from-waste plant, introducing cutting-edge recycling facilities. Beyond providing clean energy for 127,000 homes and heating for 60,000 local homes and businesses, the project significantly reduces carbon emissions, equivalent to removing 110,000 cars from the road annually.

The NLHPP embraces a comprehensive social value program, with ambitious targets. Initiatives include a community liaison group, apprenticeships, training placements, and partnerships with local businesses, schools, and community groups. Aiming for beyond-compliance, the NLHPP contributes to Sustainable Development Goals, addressing gender equality, decent work, economic growth, and climate action.

The community engagement program has garnered recognition, with 20 awards, commendations, and shortlists. Notable achievements include: 46 apprenticeships, 194 skills training placements, and 10% of supply chain spend with local businesses.

The NLHPP's school engagement initiative spans all seven NLWA boroughs, reaching over 2,500 students. The program, covering recycling, energy from waste, construction, and career pathways, has resulted in increased interest in STEM subjects and apprenticeships. The NLHPP also supports community projects through RE-Power Communities, donating over £143,000 and nearly 500 volunteering hours.

Highly commended: London Borough of Waltham Forest Council & Tendring District Council

Innovation in Partnerships

Winner: Shropshire Council

It’s no exaggeration to say the work of the River Severn Partnership will transform lives and localities for generations to come. The UK’s first strategic rural partnership has brought together partners across the Severn Catchment in England and Wales to deliver an integrated approach to resilience in areas blighted by flooding. Crucially, it’s fundamentally altering the way we manage and utilise rivers by viewing them as a social, environmental and economic asset, rather than a liability.

The partnership, which includes councils, national agencies, wildlife trusts and local nature groups, has attracted unprecedented levels of government funding as it develops and delivers a growing range of innovative projects across an area that’s home to 2.6 million people. They include projects marrying green growth with climate resilience and piloting new ways of harnessing technology to predict and prevent flooding. Described by the Environment Agency as “an outstanding partnership”, it’s created a powerful vehicle for change.

“Recent years have seen multiple serious flooding events hit many communities and businesses along the River Severn,” explains Cllr Lezley Picton, leader of Shropshire Council. “This partnership brings a truly united approach to mitigating flooding and the effects of climate change for communities. But more than that, it’s also enabling us to harness the River Severn as an asset in our efforts to guide sustainable economic growth in the region. The scope and scale of what’s possible through this partnership goes way beyond what Shropshire Council or any partner could achieve on their own.”

Highly commended: London Borough Tower Hamlets

Leadership in Responding to the Climate Emergency

Winner: Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

A Climate Emergency was declared by Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council in 2019. Calderdale’s Climate Action Plan 2023-2026 was co-created by the Climate Committee's thematic working groups working towards a Net Zero target by 2038. Between 2021 and 2023, the Climate & Environment completed extensive consultations with 750 people to co-develop targeting and measures for Climate Actions.

The Climate Action Partnership aligns with the Vision for Calderdale, acknowledging climate resilience is inextricably linked with reducing inequality and thriving places. The board provides a representation of different perspectives with anchor organisations, councillors, SMEs, voluntary community organisations, as well as individuals.

The Plan is sustained through Climate Action sitting within three corporate priorities of the council's Corporate Plan with the LGA Corporate Peer Challenge review highlighting “progressive partnership practice”.

Leadership have accessed UK100 Climate Leadership training and co-development of an Influencing Strategy to lobby for actions needed beyond the borough.

The dedicated Climate Communications team have invested in their market campaigning with the brand Net Zero Calderdale and newsletter to raise awareness of the borough-wide climate activity.

Strategic projects sitting within the actions of the Theme Groups of the Partnership have accessed regional and national funding to lead the West Yorkshire region in demonstrating innovative, scalable solutions for buildings, energy, transport, climate adaptation, and nature-based solutions including Innovate UK Sustainable Places retrofit barriers research delivering a Citizens Jury; a Local Area Energy Plan with digital twin modelling; climate data dashboard webpage and Calderdale’s Ecological Emergency Officer development of Calderdale’s Wildlife & Biodiversity Network.

Highly commended: Herefordshire Council

Rising star

Winner: Liz Atherton - Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council

Liz is on a mission to make sure Stockport achieves carbon neutrality by 2038 and is having a big impact on delivering our ambitious Climate Action Now (CAN) strategy.

She leads by example and inspires others to join the cause. Through meaningful engagement with the community, businesses and colleagues, Liz has been instrumental in increasing awareness of climate change and GHG emissions across the borough, and has influenced many to make positive changes.

Her confident community engagement skills have led to:

Over 850 young people have joined the cause submitting 130 climate change ideas from schools.
87 businesses involved in Stockport Climate Action Business Forum.
62 community groups involved in Stockport’s Green Network.
Executed the CAN Summit attended by 160 people.

A skilled and confident community engagement and climate strategy professional with an eagerness for improvement and an innovative approach, Liz uses her political acumen and relationship building skills to deliver successful climate action programs and events. She fosters a culture of knowledge sharing amongst council colleagues from across Greater Manchester, as well as key organisations and community members, and communicates effectively and confidently with her Stockport Council colleagues of all levels and councillors alike.

Highly commended: Danny O’Neil - Birmingham City Council

Senior Leadership Team

Winner: Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council

Stockport Council’s Corporate Leadership Team (CLT) has big ambitions. Working together, it is a phenomenal force. According to The Times, Stockport is undergoing a spectacular transformation, and this is down to the team’s positive, forward-thinking ambition.

CLT wants Stockport to be one of the best places to live a happy, healthy life – to be achieved by strong leadership and effective partnerships to ensure opportunities are created for everyone.
The Corporate Peer Challenge in 2022 and revisit in 2023 described Stockport Council as “an impressive organisation” with outstanding partnerships, strong performance across key areas and robust financial management. This is alongside national leading innovation in regeneration, children’s services and digital.

Stockport is a good-performing, financially robust council. The team are passionate about the borough and has a proven track record of delivering real and ambitious change.
They take a ‘One Stockport’ approach, facilitating and convening partnerships and leading the local Integrated Care System.
They understand the strengths and values of a diverse and multi-skilled team.
They successfully navigate the diverse political environment through strong cross-party working.
They are not afraid to listen and learn and are highly respected and approachable, working in partnership to deliver the very best for their residents and borough.
They bring a wealth of expertise to the organisation with their wider leadership roles within their field of expertise to help others on a professional level nationally and across Greater Manchester.

Highly commended: Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council

Transforming Lives

Winner: Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council

Since April 2022, an innovative service in Wirral has empowered thousands of families to transform their own lives and improve their quality-of-life outcomes, whilst also reducing referrals to our Early Help team by 27%.

The Family Toolbox is available to all families in Wirral who want some free information, resources, or support to help their family be the best it can be. The Toolbox is the first Council-supported Alliance for Children’s Services in the country and is unlike any other offer that has been available in Wirral before, because it is free from referral processes, free of criteria and thresholds, and free of time restrictions.

The Toolbox prioritises people over systems and makes sure that all families can access something that can help them straight away. This open-door policy removes any potential barriers or complications to accessing our services, which encourages engagement from families, and maximises our chances to engage with our harder-to-reach communities. Furthermore, the Family Toolbox streamlines the offer that is available for families on Wirral, acting as one easy-to-access front door to any type of support they may need.

The Family Toolbox Alliance consists of seven voluntary organisations offering a vast range of support services for all members of the family, including parenting courses, family support, youth clubs, domestic abuse support, wellbeing services, early years learning support, community groups, counselling and many more. It is a truly diverse and wide-reaching offer delivered by a range of local third-sector partners.

Highly commended: King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council & London Borough of Merton

Workforce Optimisation

Winner: London Borough of Hackney

Hackney’s Parking Services transitioned its Enforcement Service in-house after 23 years of outsourcing. This strategic shift, centering on customer service and public safety, has dramatically transformed team culture towards positive customer interactions, helpful behaviours and service efficiency. Civil Enforcement Officers were rebranded as Road & Traffic Enforcement Officers and received new uniforms, significantly altering public perception reducing officer abuse and attacks by 92%. The initiative enhanced community engagement, introduced a 4-day week saving £0.5m annually, and doubling productivity. Colleague satisfaction soared to unprecedented levels, staff turnover decreased significantly, with customer advice, fair warnings and equitable enforcement characterising Hackney’s new approach.

The new team structure has been designed to provide the agility to deliver demand-led enforcement services; no longer focusing on a fixed number of visits to streets every day, but instead empowering and trusting enforcement team managers to determine how best to deploy officer resources in order to better meet resident and customer demand and ultimately make parking easier and fairer for Hackney’s residents and businesses.

In terms of results, productivity has jumped from 3 PCNs per day to 11 per day per officer, and morale has transformed. In the absence of targets the team is managed on activity with team leaders spending 80% of their time out with officers, coaching, observing, providing feedback and role-modelling helpful customer behaviours The team are now proud to be an integral part of Hackney Council and feel truly appreciated, valued and supported.

Highly commended: Stockton on Tees Borough Council

Outstanding Contribution

Winner: Rob Whiteman CBE

Local Authority of the Year

Winner: Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Small in size yet huge in aspiration, Knowsley Council’s effective leadership and robust financial management, combined with a collaborative strategic plan for growth, has seen the Council take control of its future and flourish.

With a clear and ambitious vision, Knowsley Council’s consistently bold and brave approach means that the Borough is thriving, despite significant challenges including a cost of living crisis, rising costs and inflation, budget challenges and long-term social and health inequalities.

Leadership, staff, communities and partners are all united behind the Council’s clear vision to support those in need, develop inclusive skills and growth, and tackle the climate emergency. This is underpinned by the well-established Knowsley Better Together principles which unify communities, organisations and businesses, working together to pool ideas, expertise and resources and achieve more than they could alone.

Knowsley Council refuses to be deterred or defined by deprivation or socio-economic challenges. Its strong leadership has never shied away from taking tough decisions, nor taken its eye off the longer-term vision. This approach is now reaping rewards with town centres thriving and bucking national trends.

Knowsley is living proof of the impact which a well-managed local authority can have on a place and its people. Knowsley Council can be hailed as an inspiration for any local authority wanting to support its communities in the here and now, whilst also growing a better, more prosperous place for generations to come.

A Whole-Council Approach to Tackling Health Inequalities

St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

St Helens is one of the most deprived areas in England and has large inequalities across the borough. In December 2021, we established an Inequalities Commission in St Helens to understand the barriers impacting residents, give local people a voice, and learn from expertise and best practice, all with the aim to try and tackle inequalities and make sure that the most vulnerable in the borough are supported.

The priorities for the first year were: fuel poverty, food poverty and best start for children. Achievements include: expanding the number of food pantries and food provision in the borough, providing a number of much needed small grants to community groups to help them support residents who are struggling, and the significant improvement in engagement with the community and local partners which has helped us develop an understanding of the issues impacting them. This work also helped us, as a council, be in a good position to prepare and provide support for residents as the cost of living crisis grew.