2018 Winners

Please enter all required information below to access the 2018 Winners Brochure.

*Please note your details will be retained by Redactive Events Ltd and Public Finance Awards

Sponsored by: CIPFA Penna

WINNER: Finance and Procurement Team, Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority (BMKFA)

Judges’ comments: “Finance teams across the local government sector are continuing to operate effectively – and with passion – in challenging circumstances. Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority achieved a lot with a small team through collaboration and flexibility.”

SHORTLIST:

• Adult Social Care Finance Team, Middlesbrough Council
• Finance and Business Partnering Team, Livin Housing
• Finance and Procurement Team, Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority (BMKFA)
• Financial Management Team, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council
• Financial Services,  Dorset Council Partnership (one internal staffing organisation serving the 3 councils of North Dorset District Council, West Dorset District Council and Weymouth & Portland Borough Council)

WINNER: Finance Department, Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust

Judges’ comments: “This is a dynamic team with an excellent ethos and culture. The team are clear on their contribution to the trust and are well-managed from a financial perspective, although their achievements span much further.”

SHORTLIST:

• Finance Department, Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust
• Financial and Management Accounts Team, NHS Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group
• The Finance Team, North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust

WINNER: Finance Team, Independent Living Fund Scotland

Judges’ comments: “This finance team is living out the values of the organisation. Having set up a new finance system from scratch, the team has embraced cloud-based technology and innovative solution design to improve payment processes and ensure zero payment errors since 2015. This is a great example of how finance innovation and team commitment can make a positive impact on people’s lives.”

SHORTLIST:

• Finance and Commercial Directorate, Public Health England
• Finance and Corporate Governance Team, Office of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales
• Finance Team, Independent Living Fund Scotland

Sponsored by: Oxygen Finance

WINNER: Andrew Hardingham, Strategic Director for Transformation & Change, Finance, Plymouth City Council

Judges’ comments: “Andrew’s creative and innovative approach has shaped a new vision and strategy for change within the finance service, and his “Finance FIT” project is a superb example of how to move the finance function forward.  Andrew’s leadership isn’t just confined to strategy and project success and places a strong focus on staff wellbeing and the development of a collaborative and innovative culture.”

SHORTLIST:

• Andrew Hardingham, Strategic Director for Transformation & Change, Finance, Plymouth City Council
• Craig Brewin, Head of Commissioning, Slough Borough Council
• Mark Lumsdon-Taylor, CFO & Deputy CEO, Hadlow Group
• Patrick Knight, Systems Manager, Medway Council

WINNER: Keira Shepperson, Chief of Staff to the CFO, Rebecca Simon, Communications Director, Scott Shearer, Communications Senior Manager, Marilena Ioannidou, Director, British Business Bank Investments

Judges’ comments: “Through a structured approach and clear allocation of responsibilities, British Business Bank Investments have delivered high quality, accessible and innovative financial reporting. A team focus on clarity of presentation, early stakeholder engagement and careful planning has not only delivered best in class financial reports but has also enabled the development of more innovative elements, such as infographics tailored for specific audiences and a comprehensive and engaging media plan.”

SHORTLIST:

• Cameron Fox, Kristian Hibberd, Laurence Lily, Muhammad Swaleh, James Hall and Julia Beck, UK Export Finance
• Corporate Enabler Teams, Wales Audit Office
• Customer Communications and Finance Teams, Derby Homes
• Finance and Business Partnering Team, Livin Housing
• Finance and Communications Teams, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA)
• Finance, Editorial and Design Teams, Transport for London
• Keira Shepperson, Chief of Staff to the CFO, Rebecca Simon, Communications Director, Scott Shearer, Communications Senior Manager, Marilena Ionannidou, Director, British Business Bank Investments
• The Finance Team, North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust

WINNER: Housing Maintenance Partnership comprising, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, Mears and Stradia

Judges’ comments: “This was an excellent example of taking a problem, being honest about the challenges and committing to finding a way forward. Sharing both the gains and the pains has been effective and open book arrangements are working actively.”

SHORTLIST:

• Finance Team (CATER^ed), Plymouth City Council
• Orbis (partnership between Brighton and Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council and Surrey County Council)
• Partnership between Support Services for Education (SSE)(Part of Somerset County Council, SCC) and North Somerset Council (NSC)
• Project Team, Essex County Council (ECC) and West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (WECCG)
• Veritau
• Verse Facilities Management
• Housing Maintenance Partnership comprising, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, Mears and Stradia

WINNER: Samantha Rix, Procurement Specialist, The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Judges’ comments: “There was a clear procurement objective from the outset and excellent market and clinical engagement. As well as financial savings, patient safety standards were upheld and there is potential to roll out to other trusts.”

HIGHLY COMMENDED: The PSAA Team (Officers and Board), Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA)

SHORTLIST:

• Adults and Communities Commissioning Service, Slough Borough Council
• Commercial Procurement Unit, Liverpool City Council
• Essex Child and Family Wellbeing (PB19) Commissioning & Procurement Team, Essex County Council and West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group
• STAR Procurement
• Samantha Rix, Procurement Specialist, The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• The PSAA Team (Officers and Board), Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA)
• Westminster Procurement Services Team, Westminster City Council

WINNER: Government Finance Academy

Judges’ comments: “By challenging the traditional classroom mode of training delivery and embracing innovative ways of learning focused on individual learning styles the Government Finance Academy has created a world class initiative.”

SHORTLIST:

• Finance Function, Department for International Development
• Finance Directorate, DVLA
• Government Finance Academy
• The Finance Team, North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust
• Veritau

Sponsored by: SWAP Internal Audit Services

WINNER: Rob Winter, Head of Internal Audit for South Yorkshire Police and the Force Executive Team, South Yorkshire Police

Judges’ comments: “South Yorkshire Police’s Organisational Infrastructure approach to governance was a clear winner in this category. It’s a simple model, but a very effective one that has been successfully implemented. The benefits are transferable both within the policing sector and beyond.”

SHORTLIST:

• Manchester City Council
• NEPO
• Rob Winter, Head of Internal Audit for South Yorkshire Police and the Force Executive Team, South Yorkshire Police
• Tommy Morgan, Lead Auditor, The Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) at DVLA
• Verity Royle, Surrey County Council

WINNER: Tracey Woodwards, Lead Auditor, The Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) at DVLA

Judges’ comments: “This was a strong category demonstrating some excellent variation. Tracey Woodwards’ work showed impressive evidence of significant impact in a challenging cross-government environment.”

SHORTLIST:

• Internal Audit Team, Veritau
• Audit Together
• Tracey Woodwards, Lead Auditor, The Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) at DVLA

Sponsored by: CIPFA Property

WINNER: Financial Services – Treasury Team, Dorset Council Partnership (one internal staffing organisation serving the 3 councils of North Dorset District Council, West Dorset District Council and Weymouth & Portland Borough Council)

Judges’ comments: “The Dorset Council Partnership demonstrated effective joint working and governance arrangements as well as genuine innovation in portfolio diversification. Risk awareness was strong.”

SHORTLIST:

• Financial Services – Treasury Team, Dorset Council Partnership (one internal staffing organisation serving the 3 councils of North Dorset District Council, West Dorset District Council and Weymouth & Portland Borough Council)
• Finance Team, North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust

WINNER: Insurance and Risk Team, Lincolnshire County Council

Judges’ comments: “Lincolnshire has tried to shift corporate risk appetite in a pioneering way, securing buy in from across the organisation. It approaches risk from a business and transformation point of view rather than seeing it as a compliance issue.”

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Risk & Insurance Team, Shropshire Council

SHORTLIST:

• Insurance and Risk Team, Lincolnshire County Council
• Operational Risk and Control Team, NHS Shared Business Services
• Procurement and Finance Team, Essex County Council
• Risk and Audit Section, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
• Risk & Insurance Team, Shropshire Council
• The Integrated Commissioning Finance and Assurance Review Group (FARG), Plymouth City Council and Northern Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (N.E.W Devon CCG)

WINNER: Wigan Council – The Deal for Communities Investment Fund

Judges’ comments: “This was a very impressive initiative that demonstrated wide impact for a small investment. Developed for and with the community, it allows Wigan Council to invest in creative, bright ideas and projects that contribute to sustainable solutions. Wigan estimates that for every £1 invested, The Deal produces £5.62 of public value.”

SHORTLIST:

• Aspire Wrestling Academy at St. Marks Church, Derby Homes
• Community Hubs, Wiltshire Council
• Don’t Be A Waster – Reduce, Reuse, Respect, Selby District Council
• Library Service Re-configuration, North Yorkshire County Council
• Live Well, NHS Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group
• Local Emergency Support Team, Buckinghamshire County Council
• The Mersey Gateway Project, Merseylink and the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board
• The Deal for Communities Investment Fund, Wigan Council

Sponsored by: Sponsored by Oracle

WINNER: Online Fitness to Drive Team, DVLA

Judges’ comments: “A successful digitisation of vital, customer-facing service led by an in-house team. It demonstrated strong evidence of financial benefits and wider social are likely through improved road safety and a reduction in accidents, injuries and fatalities.”

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Placing Business Intelligence at the heart of decision-making, Health and Safety Executive

SHORTLIST:

• 3 Council Finance System with automated cost sharing, Dorset Council Partnership (one internal staffing organisation serving the 3 councils of North Dorset District Council, West Dorset District Council and Weymouth & Portland Borough Council)
• Care Provider Information Hub, Essex County Council
• Competition and Markets Authority
• Online Fitness to Drive Team, DVLA
• Placing Business Intelligence at the heart of decision-making, Health and Safety Executive
• Revenue & Benefits Digital Efficiency Project, City of York Council

WINNER: London Ventures Team (Ernst & Young (EY) and London Councils) and Xantura

Judges’ comments: “London Ventures impressed us through the breadth of partnership working, the size of the estimated cost savings and efficiency benefits. It’s a good replicable project working with data to develop the service.”

SHORTLIST:

• Destin Solutions and Preston and Lancaster Shared Service
• London Ventures Team, (Ernst & Young (EY) and London Councils) and Xantura
• Oxygen Finance and Cumbria County Council