Housing and Technical Resources’ partnership work with the Gypsy/Traveller Community saw them lift the Building Diversity and Inclusion Award at the Municipal Journal Achievement Awards 2022.

The project won against stiff competition from across the UK.

Executive Director of Housing and Technical Resources, Daniel Lowe, said: “Huge congratulations to all the team for winning this award – it is real testament to the hard work everyone involved has put in to make this project a success.

“This comes hot on the heels of the project winning a COSLA award, the top Scottish public sector award programme. To win at a UK-level is fantastic recognition for the work delivering consistently high levels of customer services at our two Gypsy/Traveller sites during the pandemic. Judges noted the service’s work in partnership with those living at the sites.”

HRH The Princess Royal recently visited the Springbank Gypsy/Traveller site in East Kilbride to see first-hand the results of the successful partnership working with the council.

The council’s Chief Executive Cleland Sneddon said: “Working in the public sector is not only about awards it is about doing your best for the community and I know we all strive for that at South Lanarkshire Council.

“This is just a reflection of the quality of services provided by staff in South Lanarkshire day in day out.

“The MJ awards are both great recognition for effort, innovation and commitment and a benchmark that lets all of us in the public sector learn from the best work currently being delivered across the country.”

The council’s team in Community and Enterprise Resources working on the roll out of the PACE electric vehicle charging network across Lanarkshire also made it through to this year’s final, although missed out on first place in the Best EV Charging Project Category.

The MJ Awards were launched in 2004 and the event has become one of the most recognised and hotly contested award programmes open to the public sector.

Receiving the award in the photo above are (L-R): Clive Myrie, MJ Awards Host/BBC Presenter; Tommy Bennett, Gypsy/Traveller Site Resident; Pamela Newey, Housing Services Manager, SLC; Jonathan Read, Strategy and Policy Advisor, SLC; and Nancy Scott, GatenbySanderson (Category Sponsor).