With just over a month remaining until the winners of Birmingham City Council's (BCC) highly anticipated Chamberlain Awards 2010 are revealed in a glittering ceremony at Birmingham's International Convention Centre (ICC) on Friday 12 November, the organisers of this year's event have released details of the 30 shortlisted entries. 

Named after Joseph Chamberlain, one of Birmingham's most respected civic leaders, the Chamberlain Awards scheme is designed to reward BCC workers who go the extra mile to ensure that the people of Birmingham receive quality services. Now in its sixth consecutive year, the flagship awards initiative received 185 nominations, its highest number of entries yet across all 10 diverse categories. 

Recognising the outstanding achievements of its employees over the last year, the nominations in each category are sought internally, with shortlisted finalist entries agreed by an appointed panel of eight judges from BCC and chaired by Councillor Alan Rudge, Cabinet Member for Equalities and Human Resources, who has headed up the awards since its inception in 2005. 

Councillor Rudge said: "The shortlisted entrants in every category of this year's Chamberlain Awards are all extremely strong contenders, with their achievements highlighting how Birmingham City Council employees are making a valuable contribution to the communities in which they are working."

"The awards scheme has always attracted a high calibre of entrants and this year certainly continues this trend.  The awards set out to recognise those who achieve excellence in their roles and make a valuable contribution to the communities within which they are working. The Chamberlain Awards also fit in with Birmingham City Council's Human Resources strategy to raise performance, increase motivation and share best practice, so we benefit from having one of the best performing local authorities in the UK."

Awards submissions were received under 10 categories including working with communities, personal achievement, dynamic leadership and imaginative teamwork. The people's choice for service to the community award also invited the general public to nominate their favourite council worker.

This year a tenth category has also been introduced to recognise and celebrate the outstanding work that takes place across the Council's BEST Community, a corporate engagement programme based on Birmingham City Council's core values of Belief, Excellence, Success and Trust. It designed to give BCC employees a voice and provide an opportunity for teams to come together to discuss ways they can work together more effectively, and provide better service to its customers, the citizens of Birmingham. 

The region's business community remains extremely supportive of the awards initiative, with top sponsors this year including Amey, Deloitte, KPMG, Mitie and Turner Townsend. 

Any member of BCC's workforce below assistant director level is eligible to nominate and be nominated for a Chamberlain Award. The winners of this year's Chamberlain Awards will be announced at the awards ceremony hosted by Heart FM Breakfast Show presenters Ed James and Rachel New. 

SHORTLISTED FINALIST ENTRIES

Working with communities

• Lesley Groombridge, Occupational therapist

• Jasbir Bhakar, Lotus Notes developer, Service Birmingham

• Paul Barnett, Broad Street evening street warden

 

Dynamic leadership

• Vinita C Simon, Development officer, Museums and Heritage

• Lloyd Wedgbury, Operational project manager, Physical Disability Service Redesign

• Ranjna Theaker, Library Assistant, Handsworth Library

 

Personal achievement

• Catherine Bowen, Senior receptionist, Council House Reception

• Mae Bourbage, Farm manager, Fox Hollies centre

• John Berrill, Technical services manager, Sports and Leisure - Perry Barr

 

Excellent service delivery

• BCFT Closure Team, Benefit Counter Fraud Team, Birmingham Audit

• Birmingham Residential Children's Home Service, Lifford House, Stirchley

• World Half-Marathon Team, International Events Division

 

Partnerships for Birmingham

• Business Development and Innovation Team, Retail Development and Innovation

• Brighter Futures Transformation, Strategy and Commissioning

• Shard End Project Group, Birmingham Property Services

 

Imaginative teamwork

• Service Design Team, HR Network of expertise

• Staffordshire Hoard Team, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

• Highways PFI Project Team, Secured Transport PFI Contract

 

Equalities and community cohesion

• Rosemin Ahmed, Home School Link Worker, Nansen Primary School

• Abdul Ghaffar, Youth Worker, Bordesley Green Detached Project

• Ward End Library Team, Library Service,, Hodge Hill Constituency

 

Efficiency

• Compliance Team, Corporate Procurement Service

• Birmingham Consultancy Service, People Resourcing

• Review Team Learning Disability Service, Review Service

 

People's choice for service to the community

• Dean Phillips, Librarian,Yardley Wood Library

• Richard Green, Neighbourhood Manager, Selly Oak Constituency

• Sutton Coldfield and Erdington Home Care Team, Specialist care services

 

Best of BEST

• Claire Vaughan, Secretary to Selly Oak, Constituency Director

• Fox Hollies Environmental Centre Team, Acocks Green

• Community Action Team, Education Welfare Service