Simon Taylor won the CEO’s award for Bravery

Simon Taylor, an LGV driver at the international hub in Coventry, won this year’s Chief Executive’s award for Bravery.

Simon took swift action when a fire broke out in a lorry while a driver was resting. He helped the driver to escape safely and warned others, who were resting in their cabs, of the danger. He also helped to fight the fire.

‘I was surprised to win the award and I am sure a lot of other people nominated in the category were as deserving,’ says Steven. ‘It’s an absolute honour particularly as, at the time, I just responded and did the right thing.’

Patrick McKenna won the Customer Excellence award

Patrick McKenna, a delivery line manager at Eltham South delivery office won the Customer Excellence award at this year’s Chairman’s Awards for Excellence.

Patrick won the accolade because of his work investigating, resolving and driving down customer complaints. He has ensured that employees receive one-to one interviews and coaching, and share his commitment to customer service.

‘The customer is at the heart of everything we do at Eltham delivery office and we’re proud of achieving so much to improve their experience with us by driving down complaints,’ says Patrick. ‘We’ve been at the top of local and national performance league tables and we want to keep performing well.’

Susan Black won the Community Champion award

Susan Black, a postwoman from Edinburgh mail centre won the Community Champion award at this year’s Chairman’s Awards for Excellence.

Susan has organised numerous events to raise funds for local children who are less fortunate. Her actions ensure staff always have fun raising money and vulnerable children are given attention and have fun.

‘I’ve been involved in numerous events to raise funds for local children,’ says Susan. ‘I hope this award helps persuade my colleagues to go on giving generously for the causes I work with. It’s shocking that there are children a mile from our mail centre who wouldn’t have anything for Christmas if we didn’t collect for them.’

Gavin Hardie won the Best Colleague award

Gavin Hardie, a union learning representative at Plymouth mail centre, won the Best Colleague award at this year’s Chairman’s Awards for Excellence.

Gavin was recognised for striving to improve opportunities for frontline staff and managers. He makes the mail centre and MDEC better places to work, and organises learning, charity and community events.

‘I’ve seen so many impressive stories of people from across Royal Mail at this event and I was surprised to even be nominated’, says Gavin. ‘We’re all doing what we know is right and it’s good to be recognised for the learning, charity and community events I have organised in my workplace. I was particularly proud of the event I arranged at the mail centre to mark Remembrance Day last year.’

The weekend FSM team won the Change Champion award

The weekend FSM team from Leeds mail centre won the Change Champion award at this year’s Chairman’s Awards for Excellence.

The judges felt they used their knowledge and experience to turn a poor-performing work area into one of the top teams in the UK. The team used local knowledge to make improvements.

Operator John Hewitt spoke on behalf of the team. He says: ‘It’s great to be part of an amazing team that has come so far. We’ve worked hard to turn a poor-performing work area into one of the best in the UK. We have proven we can work well as a team, using our own initiative. Our performance is good because we all come up with ideas.’