Welcome to the e-newsletter for the Public Servants of the Year Awards 2005. This monthly bulletin will provide you with updates on what is happening with the awards from promotion, to judging, to the ceremony in April 2005. We hope it will be of interest and that you will be encouraged to make a nomination.

Prime Minister endorses the Public Servants of the Year Awards

Prime Minister Tony Blair is once again delighted to give his full support to the Public Servants of the Year awards scheme.

Click here to view the Prime Minister’s message.

Promoting the Awards

These prestigious awards, run by Public Finance magazine in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) the Cabinet Office and the Office of Government Commerce, seek to recognise and reward excellence and outstanding achievement displayed by individuals and teams from Britain’s 4 million public sector workers.

During September and October 140,000 nomination forms were sent out across the public services and hundreds of requests and enquiries have been made. If you haven’t already received a copy click here to download it or email publicservants@publicfinance.co.uk to request one by post.

The award categories

As with the 2004 awards there are seven individual categories and six team awards. Additionally for 2005 we have launched a new award for an individual or a team. All individual finalists are automatically considered for the Outstanding Public Servant of the Year Award, while all team finalists will be eligible for the Outstanding Team of the Year Award.

Individual awards

The individual awards aim to reflect the richness and diversity of our public services at all levels and in all organisations. Previous finalists have included Teachers, Firefighters, Nurses, Chief Executives, Cleaners and Librarians. The awards are looking for individuals who have achieved outstanding results in their own unique environment, overcome hurdles, inspired others and made a difference through their personality, commitment and ability. Click here for criteria.

The individual award categories are:

• Breaking New Ground – the award for innovation
• Inspiring Success – the award for leadership
• Making a Difference to People – the social inclusion award
• Nothing is Impossible – the turn-round manager award
• On Board – the award for a non-executive’s contribution
• Raising the Standard – the front-line worker award
• Working Together – the award for progress through partnership

Team awards

The team awards seek the same level of excellence, but from teams, working in specific sectors, which can demonstrate that by working together they have achieved a common goal. Click here for criteria.

The team award categories are:

• Central Government
• Education
• Health
• Housing
• Local Government
• Uniformed Services

The award for individuals or teams

This new award, Unlocking the Potential – the award for enterprise, seeks individuals or teams that have successfully identified commercially viable opportunities resulting in additional income for public services. Click here for criteria.

Each individual and team that reaches the finals will receive two invitations to attend the award ceremony including accommodation and expenses. Winners will receive a unique, specially commissioned glass award and a year’s free subscription to Public Finance. Winners of the Outstanding Individual and Team of the Year Awards will also have the opportunity to nominate a charity to receive a £2,000 donation.

Volunteers needed

We need to recruit additional scrutineers to mark the award entries. Are you a professional with public sector experience able to volunteer up to nine hours of your free time for this activity? If so, we would love to hear from you. The scrutineering process takes place between mid-December and mid-January – so you may need to mark entries over the Christmas holidays. Scrutineering is rigorous but rewarding work, which if often regarded as an enjoyable and challenging learning experience in itself. The work is unpaid, but you will receive an invitation to the ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel on London’s Park Lane on 21st April 2005 and travel expenses will be covered. For more information, contact Helen McDonnell on 020 7543 5872 or email her at helen.mcdonnell@cipfa.org

Interested in sponsoring an award?

Our awards sponsors are companies with close links to the public sector and all are pleased to publicly demonstrate their support by giving recognition to those among our public servants who have delivered exceptional service. A small number of awards are still available for sponsorship. To learn more about becoming a sponsor and the generous benefits package call Mike Spray on 020 7543 5782 or email him at mike.spray@publicfinance.co.uk

Want to attend the awards ceremony in April 2005?

The winners will be revealed on the evening of Thursday 21st April 2005 at the awards ceremony, which will be hosted by Dermot Murnaghan and Mary Nightingale. The ceremony will celebrate the 5th anniversary of the awards and will be held at the prestigious Grosvenor House Hotel on London’s Park Lane. Tickets are available to individuals, teams and organisations that want to enjoy this glittering occasion. Companies wishing to entertain public sector clients will find this setting an ideal opportunity to cement relationships and network with other organisations while also enjoying a splendid black-tie event.

Early-bird discounts are available. If you book before 30th November 2004 and quote ‘e-news discount’, a table of ten will cost £949 + VAT, a saving of over £250. Individual tickets will cost just £99 + VAT, a saving of over £20.

Don’t forget the timetable:

Entry Deadline: 26th November 2004
Judging: February 2005
Finalists notified: March 2005
Awards ceremony: Thursday 21st April 2005

Visit the awards website: www.publicservants.org.uk