Get Your Nominations In For The Gwynedd Council Awards Ceremony

For the first time ever, Gwynedd Council’s annual staff awards are being opened up to a public vote. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

For a number of years Gwynedd Council has been holding the ‘Council at its Best’ ceremony where members of staff who have made an outstanding contribution to local services are recognised. This is a small way the Council can thank staff for putting the customer at the heart of their work and also to inspire others to learn from excellent service. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In the past, members of staff have been nominated for these awards by their colleagues but in 2017 – for the first time ever – members of the public can nominate someone for the new ‘People’s Award’ if they feel that they’ve had good service. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If people really appreciate years of service from a dedicated Council worker or have had brilliant service in exceptional one-off circumstances this is their chance to nominate them for an award. From swimming teachers to social workers and from regeneration officers to roadsweepers, and everything in between – people are never far from a Council worker giving it their all. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Nominating could not be easier – visit the website www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/CouncilAtrItsBest and fill in the form. A nomination form is also available in the Council newsletter which has been delivered to all homes this week. Alternatively, look out for messages on how to nominate on the Council’s Facebook and Twitter feeds. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Shortlisted nominees will be invited to the annual award ceremony at the Council’s main chamber in the spring and all winners will receive a certificate and a small trophy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Eric M Jones, the Council’s Chair, said: “The ‘Council at its Best’ ceremony is a real highlight of the working year for the Council. It’s the one time of the year where we take time out to show our appreciation in a small way to those members of staff who go the extra mile to ensure that people in Gwynedd receive the best possible service. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“In these times of stretched resources, it can seem like a minor miracle that our workforce is able to continue to provide services that the public depend upon on a fraction of the budget that was once available. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We can’t give our staff financial or material prizes, but the ceremony is our way of saying thank you to those who go above and beyond the call of duty for the benefit of local people.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dilwyn Williams, Gwynedd Council Chief Executive, added: “As a Council we are always keen to learn from experience – improving after mistakes or setbacks as well as holding good service up as an example for all staff. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The vast majority of the Council’s 5,000 staff do an excellent job but all too often their efforts to put the people of Gwynedd at the heart of their work goes unnoticed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I would really appreciate if people who feel that they have had good service could spare a few minutes to fill in the nomination forms.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The closing date for nominations is 31 January 2017. All nominations will be considered by the Council Chair and Vice Chair, and the winner will be announced in the ‘Council At Its Best’ awards ceremony in the spring of 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​