26 September 2003
Prime Minister Tony Blair has lent his support to the 2004 Public Servants of the Year Awards and is encouraging as many public sector bodies as possible to nominate individuals or teams.
Blair contributed the foreword to the awards' prospectus in which he highlights the 'unsung heroes at the front line who make a real difference to our lives'.
He writes that there is still much to do, 'but, equally, much has been achieved'.
The new-look awards were launched by Public Finance this week, and readers should find a copy of the prospectus with this issue of the magazine.
'The 2004 awards will continue the promotion of the message of excellence in public service and the winners will be the champions for change and commitment,' the PM writes in his foreword. 'I hope that as many organisations as possible will want to take part in this scheme.'
A new structure has been introduced for the awards, so that there are categories for teams as well as individuals. There will now be two main awards – the Outstanding Public Servant of the Year and the Outstanding Team of the Year.
There is also a new chair of the judging panel. Sir Michael Lyons, the chair of Inlogov, will take over from Rabbi Julia Neuberger, the outgoing chief executive of the King's Fund.
The deadline for entries is November 30, 2003 and the ceremony will take place in London on May 10, 2004.
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