Surrey Stars award winners announced for 2023

Surrey County Council announced its award winners at a dazzling ceremony held on 5 December 2023 at G Live in Guildford.

The Stars in Surrey Awards are an opportunity for Surrey County Council’s (SCC) staff to come together and show their appreciation each year for everyone who provides tireless service to Surrey and the people who live and work here.

The awards celebrated the incredible efforts and projects from teams and individuals in the organisation’s workforce and beyond, recognising some of the many amazing individuals, teams, workers, volunteers and residents in Surrey who go above and beyond in their daily lives to make a difference.

The awards cover a range of categories including Excellence in Customer Service, Championing of SCC’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion values, as well as an award for proactive environmental work. While most of the awards recognise staff and are nominated internally, the Community Hero Award, the Greener Future Champion Award, the Team Award for Outstanding Customer Service and Frontline Worker of the Year Award celebrated a Surrey resident or worker, and were chosen by residents, businesses, or other organisations, following a public campaign.

Winners included teams and individuals who do outstanding work on behalf of the people of Surrey who look after young people in care, help elderly people live at home for longer, keep Surrey’s libraries thriving and encourage more people to access the countryside.

The Unsung Hero Award was given to Gordon Dodd, Former Targeted Engagement Worker in in the Children, Families and Lifelong Learning directorate who was awarded this honour posthumously. His remarkable contributions, dedication, and impact during his career have left an indelible mark on all those who worked with him.

The Greener Future Award went to a truly inspirational young Surrey resident, Alexander Green, who at 16 years of age was the youngest winner of the evening.  His determination and commitment to help Surrey deliver its commitment to net zero is remarkable.

The final award presented on the night was the People’s Choice Award, which received over 1,500 votes, and was won by Karmal Gent, a Senior Practitioner for Targeted Youth Support in the Children, Families and Lifelong Learning directorate.

Leader of the Council Tim Oliver, said: “A huge congratulations to all of our Stars in Surrey winners! Their dedication and outstanding contributions across Surrey are inspirational. In communities large and small, their tireless efforts have made a lasting impact.

“I’d like to say a heartfelt thankyou to Pick Everard and all of our sponsors who helped make the event possible. My thanks go to everyone who nominated their Surrey heroes.”

The awards were fully sponsored by some of the most progressive, innovative and well-established companies working in Surrey. They are: Pick Everard, 31ten Consulting, Atkins Réalis, Beard Construction, Concerto, Connect2Surrey, Embridge Consulting, IMPOWER, MLL Telephony, myProteus, Ringway, Suez, Unit4 and Vail Williams.

Representatives from some of the key sponsors were in attendance to cheer on all the nominees and honour the outstanding achievements and contributions of Surrey staff and local heroes.

Deborah Crossan from IMPOWER, said: “We were delighted to support the awards again, it was great to see so many people recognised for the brilliant work they are delivering.” 

Ollie Chun from Beard Construction, commented: “Stars in Surrey is a wonderful evening, it is a pleasure to support such amazing people doing such amazing things. We are really glad that we could be a part of this event, it’s wonderful to be able to celebrate so many amazing people and organisations.”

Eamon Matthews from AtkinsRéalis, stated: “Stars in Surrey was a great night that shines a light and brings to life all the great work done by so many at Surrey.”

Full list of winners for 2023:

• The Make it Happen Community Hero Award – Alix Lewer, Include.org and the Include Choir, Epsom, Reigate and Redhill
• Team Award for Innovative Working – Business Applications Team, Resources
• Championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award – Include Choir, Epsom, Reigate and Redhill
• Greener Future Champion Award (Enabling a Greener Future) – Alexander Green, local community volunteer, New Haw
• Young employee of the Year Award – Hannah Mudd, Library Assistant, Woking Library, Customer and Communities
• Frontline Worker of the Year Award (No One Left Behind) – Barry Whitmore, Senior Practitioner, Leaving Care, Children, Families and Lifelong Learning
• Entrepreneurial Project of the Year Award – David Greenwood, Manager, Volunteering and Community Benefit, Environment, Infrastructure and Growth
• Award for Outstanding Customer Service – HOPE Guildford, a multi-agency service for young people aged 11-18
• The Unsung Hero Award – Gordon Dodd, Former Targeted Engagement Worker, Children, Families and Lifelong Learning
• The Lifetime Achievement Award – Paul Booker, former Corporate Health and Safety Lead Manager, People and Change
• The Service Transformation Award – Libraries and Cultural Services Transformation Team, Customer and Communities
• People’s Choice Award – Karmal Gent, Senior Practitioner, Targeted Youth Support, Children, Families and Lifelong Learning

The Stars in Surrey awards are an amazing opportunity to stop and reflect upon some of the many fantastic individuals, teams, workers, volunteers and residents in Surrey who go above and beyond in their daily lives to make a positive difference to others.