The judging panel for the APD Control Room Awards, from L to R: Mike Isherwood, Ian Thompson, Sue Noyes and Barry Zielinski. Chris Dreyfuss-Gibson and Cheryl Rolph OBE participated in the judging remotely.
Finalists have been announced for the APD Control Room Awards 2018, which take place on 8 March. The awards are the first to recognise and celebrate the life-saving and life-changing work of staff in control rooms within emergency services and critical control operations across the UK.
A panel of six judges with extensive experience of working in or with emergency services and critical control organisations selected the finalists from more than 200 nominations – the vast majority for individual control room personnel.
Nominations for the nine award categories came from more than 40 organisations the length and breadth of the UK, ranging from Police Scotland to North West Ambulance Service and Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service.
Shortlisted entries recognised the extraordinary, behind-the-scenes contribution of control room staff in serving society, keeping the public safe and secure, and responding to the most difficult and harrowing situations and emergency incidents.
The company behind the awards is APD Communications, which develops critical, life-saving software used by the police and other emergency services organisations across the country, as well as transport and aviation operators nationally and internationally.
Leading tech company telent Technology Services is the Platinum Partner of the awards, with pioneering technology companies Sopra Steria and Seed Software as Bronze Sponsors. British APCO (Association of Public Safety Communications Officials) and International Critical Control Rooms Alliance (ICCRA) are backing the awards, while critical communications data capture, storage and analysis specialist Red Box Recorders is sponsoring the Team of the Year award.
The APD Control Room Awards 2018 finalists are:
Award for Services to the Public, sponsored by telent
Alison Brenton Bowes, Kent Police
Daniel Smith, West Yorkshire Police
Sanchez Singh, Greater Manchester Police
Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by APD Communications
Lyn Juby, London Fire Brigade
Jules Lockett, London Ambulance Service
Eddie McEvoy, West Yorkshire Police
Control Room Dispatcher of the Year
Iain MacKay, Police Scotland
David Edd Redwood, Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service
Cheryl Skelly, Police Scotland
Leader of the Year
Tom Donohoe, West Yorkshire Police
Jules Lockett, London Ambulance Service
Philip Quickenden, Suffolk Police
Control Room Call Taker of the Year, sponsored by Sopra Steria
Lisa Canovan, Greater Manchester Police
Leanne Ross, Police Scotland
Samantha Seager, Metropolitan Police
Community Champion Award
Usama Darr, Metropolitan Police
Clive Hamilton, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service
Laura Harmer, Nottinghamshire Police
Young Achiever of the Year, sponsored Seed Software
Alicia Ledger, South Yorkshire Police
Mark Richardson, North East Ambulance Service
Chelsea Scarsbrook, Sussex Police
Melissa Starmer, Nottinghamshire Police
Special Recognition for Bravery and Courage Award
Julie Burgess, Devon and Cornwall Police
Nathan Moon, North West Ambulance Service
Anthony Sutcliffe, West Yorkshire Police
Team of the Year, sponsored by Red Box Recorders
North West Ambulance Service (Broughton EOC Orange EMD Team)
London Ambulance Service (Emergency Operations Centre)
British Transport Police (Force Control Room)
London Fire Brigade (Two Watch)
The winners will be announced at a ceremony on 8 March at the De Vere Orchard Hotel in Nottingham. Follow the awards on Facebook: @controlroomawards, Twitter: @CR_Awards and LinkedIn: Control Room Awards.
