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Notes to editors

The awards were open to all organisations and individuals who have worked with the company from January 2009 until May 2010.

Judging process - In the first instance, entries were short-listed by a team of specialists from Network Rail. A final judging panel, that included Iain Coucher, chief executive, and other senior directors from Network Rail chose the winners.

The categories:

1. Best project award

This award recognises a project delivered by a supplier that has brought benefits to Britain’s railways. The judges looked for measurable results that demonstrated the effectiveness of the project and the benefits it has brought. Evidence of an impeccably planned and delivered project was also taken into account.

Three awards were awarded within this category:

(i) small (for projects valued at under £3m)
(ii) medium (for projects valued between £3m and £20m)
(iii) large (for projects valued over £20m)

2. Community engagement award

This award recognises a company community or charitable giving programmes that are improving local communities in Britain. It also could include groups of two or more companies that are having an impact on society and local communities through collaborative action. The key here was to show not only the inputs (resources, time, money spent or donated etc.) but also the outputs (what the business and social benefits were).

3. Environmental sustainability award

This category rewarded an organisation that have displayed exemplary behaviour in making sure that environmental considerations have played an important part when undertaking projects or general work practices on or near the railway. Entries clearly demonstrated benefits to the environment.

4. Good lineside neighbour award

This award recognises an organisation or individual that has worked hard to go above and beyond normal customer service to be a good lineside neighbour when undertaking work. The judges looked for the benefits this has brought to Network Rail and the rail industry.

5. Heritage award

This recognises a project or an organisation that has improved, restored or conserved any Network Rail railway buildings or structures of national importance in an effort to restore the heritage of Britain’s railways.

6. Information technology award

This award recognises an organisation that have used information technology to mitigate or solve a problem that Network Rail faces or those that have used information technology to streamline processes. Judges looked for measurable results that show the benefits that this technology has created.

7. Innovation award

This award recognises an organisation who have created new approaches for mitigating or solving a problem that Network Rail faces. Judges looked for genuine innovation and for measurable results as to how these new products or new ways of working have brought benefits.

8. Investing in people award

This award recognises an organisation that has demonstrated excellence in investing in people; for example in talent, skills, apprenticeship schemes, training, leadership and development. Judges looked for evidence on how these have created benefits for the organisation and Network Rail as well as the railway industry.

9. Safety award

This award recognises an organisation that have improved safety within the workplace and on or near the railway and the benefits this has brought to the organisation and the railway industry. The judges looked for a continued and sustained effort to improve safety.

10. Team contribution award

This category rewarded teamwork between different companies and organisations or between teams within the same organisation who have made a difference to the railway and brought benefits to Network Rail. Judges looked for evidence to demonstrate the benefits that their contribution has made.

Supplier of the Year

Only the winners from the above categories were eligible for consideration for this award. Judges gave this award to the supplier that has demonstrated excellence and best practice in all work areas.