NHC celebrates business excellence

(29th January 2004)

Local businesses were celebrating success at the inaugural North Hertfordshire College Business Excellence Awards, held at the Goldsmith Management Centre in Letchworth on Thursday 22 January.

The evening provided businesses and organisations within the eastern region an opportunity to highlight and celebrate excellence and best practice in their work and acknowledged the College’s status as a Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) in Management.

Judging was carried out by the CoVE Steering Group, which is made up of representatives of local organisations and North Hertfordshire College. The evening was hosted by College Principal Roger Gochin, who opened the ceremony by commenting that the awards hoped to acknowledge not only the importance of training, but also that of the relationship between the employer and employee and of working together as a team.

The award for Best Employer for Motivating the Workforce through Training, sponsored by The Comet, was awarded to Interaction Recruitment, in Letchworth. Employee Sara Sapsed nominated the company as recognition of the company’s eagerness to support her through her Certificate in Management Studies Certificate.

The Best Employer for Company Training award, sponsored by the Learning & Skills Council and nominated by Simon Deakin, went to Viking Johnson of Hitchin. Pipeline fittings manufacturer, Viking Johnson, encourages its employees to train not just to meet legislative requirements but also for educational and development purposes and it is for this forward-looking approach to training that the award was presented.

Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Ambulance & Paramedic NHS Trust, in Bedford won the award for Best Employer for Putting Training into Practice, which was sponsored by the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE). The company was nominated by Paul Kattenhorn, who is in the first year of a Diploma in Management Studies at the Goldsmith Centre.

The Trust received the award in recognition of its innovative ways of delivering care. One example is a pilot scheme – the first in the UK - developed by the Trust, which combines the skills and knowledge of Paramedics and District Nurses. The two practitioners work together in an ambulance car delivering the correct treatment for that patient, who may or may not require hospital care. These practitioners can reduce unnecessary stress to the patient and unnecessary accident and emergency appointments.

The Best Employer for Rewarding Staff award, sponsored by AGRE, went to Hertsmere Primary Care Trust, Potters Bar, following a nomination by Kathleen Bailey, who is a learner on the Diploma in Management Studies course. Hertsmere Primary Care Trust is committed to improving working lives and there is a real commitment to create a well managed, flexible working environment. The company seeks to help each individual make the most of themselves through coaching, mentoring and development.

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue in Stevenage received the award for Best Employer for Customer Service, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, following a nomination by employee Ian Parkhouse. The company also received the award for Best Employer Overall.

Presenting the award NHC Principal Roger Gochin commented: “The training undertaken within this organisation supports the Service’s strategy in providing a safer working and living environment for the residents of Hertfordshire. The organisation gained Beacon Status in 2002 for the training of young people and at the London Award Ceremony were described as a ‘World Class Training Provider’.”

All award winners received a commemorative plaque, paperweight and certificate and the nominees of winning companies received a voucher to put towards further courses at the Goldsmith Centre. After the presentation ceremony attendees enjoyed a buffet prepared and served by learners on NHC Catering and Hospitality courses.

For further information on the Goldsmith Management Centre please contact the Business Development Unit on 01462 471092 or email business@nhc.ac.uk

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