What a night to remember as we hosted the Future Vision Awards 2024 on Tuesday night at the iconic Aintree Racecourse.
We would like to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone that joined us and celebrated. To everyone who nominated and shortlisted you are all winners and should be proud of yourself.
Now to the winners of this year's awards.........CONGRATULATIONS 🎉🎉🎉🎉
COMMUNITY AWARD WINNER
Emma Bull, Employee Relations Manager, Mitie
Emma Bull, Employee Relations Manager led a project to create a community of 250 Specialist Grievance Investigation Managers (SGIMs). The aim of this specialist group was to carefully hear the most complex grievances, ensuring that they were dealt with fairly, consistently and with due care and attention.
The SGIM’s were from various levels of the organisation and Emma developed a training programme which meant they were upskilled to be able to perform their roles but also supported through the development of an SGIM community. This meant those hearing cases had a network of support from dedicated colleagues with similar experience.
Benefits to the new approach were:
· Upskilled managers received specific training including on ED&I issues.
· Drive down case completion time
· SGIMs become specialised with practice and become more confident in their decision making.
· SGIMs over time became involved in upskilling other managers.
· Employee confidence in speaking out knowing a specialist will hear their case
· 500% increase in attendance at EDI events and 103% increase in diversity network membership as SGIM’s have promoted membership
LEADERSHIP AWARD WINNER
Jan Fish, Payroll Manager, Cammell Laird Shiprepairers and Ship Builders Ltd
One of Jan's key achievements was leading the development of a pilot Shared Service Centre (SSC) for payroll, streamlining operations and setting a benchmark for efficiency. His strategic vision, clear communication, and problem-solving skills ensured seamless coordination across teams, resulting in improved accuracy, compliance, and cost efficiency.
Jan's leadership is also evident in his dedication to the professional growth of his team. By implementing tailored development plans, providing training, and fostering a collaborative environment, Jan has empowered his team to thrive, with many members taking on new responsibilities.
Through this inclusive, performance-driven approach, Jan has cultivated a culture where individuals feel valued, motivated, and connected to the broader organisational goals. His focus on work-life balance and open communication has boosted morale, engagement, and retention.
In conclusion, Jan exemplifies exceptional leadership, with a profound impact on both his team, the finance department and the wider organisation. I am proud to nominate them for this award.
EVOLUTION AWARD WINNER
Sarah Jones, Accounts Payable Manager, Rhenus Logistics
The AP department, once marked by instability and inefficiency, has now become a structured and collaborative unit. Before Sarah’s leadership and passion for change, the team lacked direction and struggled to unite under previous management. Sarah, however, took the time to understand each team member’s strengths, using her infectious enthusiasm and positive energy which bought the team into her vision. This vision wasn’t just a top-down directive, it was an evolving journey that Sarah and her team embarked on together, transforming a once siloed group into a dynamic and cohesive team.
Within the past year, Sarah self-initiated and completed an internal audit recovery project that recovered an impressive £419k. This initiative alone is a testament to her proactive approach and dedication to improving the organisation’s financial health.
Some of Sarah’s other key achievements in the past year are
- Implemented Payment Run processes which Enhanced Payment Accuracy by 92>#/p###
- Payment Processing Times reduced by 72%, setting a new standard for AP efficiency.
- Reduced Overdue Suppliers by 67% through improved structured processes and communication.
- Reduction in Debit Balance Accounts by 80>#/p###
- Implemented a Direct Debit Process, streamlining payment handling.
Sarah is an asset to our company and has transformed our AP department, we are grateful and thankful for her.
YOUR CULTURE YOUR DNA AWARD WINNER
Virgin Media O2
Our dedication to fostering a culture where every employee thrives is demonstrated through a range of impactful initiatives. We’ve leveraged our tech expertise with our award-winning AI Automated Bot that drives engagement with key equity and diversity programs, such as Ally-Up workshops and a monthly calendar promoting inclusive events like Pride, Black History Month, and East and South Asian Heritage celebrations. In response to employee feedback, we’ve introduced “Ally Up” educational sessions on anti-racism and neurodiversity, promoting understanding and enhancing psychological safety. Our Zero Tolerance programme tackles discriminatory behaviour, particularly for customer-facing teams, ensuring a safe, respectful workplace. Our employee networks—Women’s Network, We Care, Proudly (LGBTQIA+), Neurodiversity, Ultraviolet (Disability), and Enrich—celebrate diversity, while our Adjustment Passport, neuroinclusive meeting guidance, and accessibility toolkits ensure everyone feels supported. Externally, we partner with 20/20 Levels empowering underrepresented young people. Our Inclusive Leader Training Programme and ambitious goals—connecting 1 million digitally excluded people by 2025 and achieving gender parity by 2027—demonstrating our long-term commitment to inclusivity. With family-friendly policies like paid carer’s leave and paid volunteering days, we prioritise employee well-being and community impact. By embedding these initiatives into our culture, Virgin Media O2 is driving positive change, ensuring every employee is empowered to thrive.
WELLBEING IMPACT AWARD WINNER
Amey Group Shared Services Team
The AMEY Group Shared Service Team (GSS) exemplifies excellence in wellbeing, with a straightforward yet effective approach that actively engages team members to embrace support. Their commitment to wellbeing is integral to their ethos, demonstrated through initiatives like conducting surveys for deeper engagement whilst aligning with the corporate wellbeing strategy. Rachael Rowan's role as communication and engagement lead has been key to embedding a strong wellbeing culture within the workplace
Some of the noteworthy initiatives include:
The wellbeing week was a highlight where the GSS pioneered the concept which was embraced by the wider business. This adoption across the company is a true testament to the dedication and innovative approach of the GSS team. The culmination of the week was the Family Fun Day, which underscored the importance of community and support in the workplace. The Wellbeing Week by AMEY GSS Team made a huge difference, contributing to a happier, more engaged, cohesive and productive team.
SHARED SERVICES SUSTAINABILITY AWARD WINNER
BAE Systems
Our new Head Office building is a prime example of our commitment to sustainability… including an improved EPC rating from E to A, a living wall on the car park, 8 electric vehicle charging points and a completely new energy efficient heating and ventilation system. Not forgetting the move from 2 buildings to 1, which in itself is a huge reduction to our overall carbon footprint.
When creating our new sustainable friendly office, we re-used 44% of furniture in the new office and the remaining furniture either went to other sites or to charity.
The new office also provides a wonderful environment to work in with lots of natural light and different work spaces which add interest and spark inspiration. There’s also a variety of plants which we know help to reduce stress and increase production... providing a better atmosphere in more ways than one!
The new office now acts as the standard for all other offices in our portfolio to help the business achieve Carbon Net Zero by 2030.
CUSTOMER COLLABORATION AWARD WINNER
RTX, People Services team UKI
Sound familiar? Like many organisations, RTX has faced challenges in embedding the HR operating model. This year, we transformed our approach through the "OneHR" initiative, directly addressing customer feedback that highlighted confusion, disjointed services, and delayed resolutions.
The "OneHR" initiative focused on building equal partnerships across HR, earning trust by fulfilling commitments, and collaborating on strategic improvement projects. We worked together to simplify the HR model for customers and brought it to life by co-hosting customer events as one unified HR team. We spent time working from each other’s offices to build better understanding, and rotated talent across the model to develop skills.
This collaborative approach has led to significant improvements, including a 29% reduction in case resolution time, a 12% increase in customer satisfaction, and a 44% growth in specialised services cases. Additionally, our internal employee engagement has improved by 5 points in just six months.
Customer feedback speaks volumes about our success:
"The partnership between the HRBPs, CoEs, and People Services was foundational to the event’s success."
"The strong relationship between People Services, HR, and CoE’s is built on hard work, excellent leadership, and the promotion of a strong team spirit."
"The HR model is going from strength to strength as a direct result of the commitment, hard work, and capability of this team."
"OneHR" has transformed the way we work and demonstrated that we are truly stronger, together.
RISING STAR AWARD WINNER
Millie Tottle, Organisational Development Assistant, NHS Shared Services Partnership (NHSWSSP)
Millie’s contribution to the organisation has been very impressive and has made a huge impact. Not simply because she has been asked to undertake impactful tasks but because she goes the extra mile to ensure that projects are a success. Millie was instrumental in the running of NWSSP’s Health and Well-being conference in October 2023, liaising with speakers, running all the technical aspects and addressing arising problems with quick thinking and a calm demeanour. She has also been invaluable during the NWSSP Staff awards events, both the virtual event and the regional winner events.
As a Health and Well-being Champion, Millie updates the Chair of the NWSSP Health and Well-being Partnership group, NWSSP’s Finance Director, along with other health and well-being champions during the meeting. She is also part of the People and Organisational Development staff engagement group and is involved in planning and taking a lead in well-being and social activities for the team.
