25 March 2005
More than 40 finalists have been selected by the judges of the Public Servants of the Year Awards to go forward to the ceremony in London next month.
The finalists come from all parts of the public sector and from throughout the UK. Individuals short listed include a head teacher, a firefighter, a charity chief executive, a park warden and a librarian. Team finalists include jobcentre workers, school cleaners, police units and London Buses.
In total, 20 individuals and 23 teams have been recognised. They were chosen from more than 400 entries – a record for the event.
Sir Michael Lyons, the deputy chair of the Audit Commission and chair of the judging panel, said the awards had highlighted great tales of success.
'The end result is a group of finalists who sum up what is best in our public services. Together they reflect creativity, innovation and a willingness to innovate – the qualities we increasingly expect of our best public servants,' he added.
The awards, which are now in their fifth year, aim to recognise the achievements of individuals and teams working across the public services. They are run by Public Finance, in partnership with CIPFA, the Cabinet Office and the Office of Government Commerce.
There are now seven categories for individuals and six for teams. This year has also seen the introduction of two hybrid categories – for enterprise and better regulation – open to both individuals and teams.
Category winners and the two main awards – the Outstanding Public Servant of the Year and the Outstanding Team of the Year - will be announced at a high-level ceremony on April 21.
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