Apprentices, drivers, engineers, customer service professionals, managers from Go North East came together recently to celebrate excellence within its 2,100-strong team at its annual Team GNE Awards.
Re-launched as the Team GNE Awards to help bring Go North East’svision, beliefs and attitudes to life, the revamped event boasted a stunning new location, at Newcastle’s Crowne Plaza, and more categories were added to the bill to recognise talent throughout the business, with bigger prizes up for grabs at the special celebration – including European mini-cruises, luxury hotel and spa breaks and delicious dining experiences.
Go North East also introduced an inclusive peer-to-peer nomination process to empower all team members and divisions spanning the region to get involved. And for the first time, individuals could put themselves forward for an accolade.
Beginning the evening’s proceedings, 10 team members from across the company were invited to the stage to honour their high levels of internal customer service.
Following this, each of the highly-anticipated winners and runners up for the nine categories were revealed.
Team GNE Awards 2017 winners and runners up:
Apprentice of the Year:
- Michael Ord, Gateshead Riverside – winner
- Zoe Gibbons, Bensham – runner up
Engineer of the Year:
- Barry Coates, Saltmeadows Road – winner
- Duncan Graham, Percy Main – runner up
Driver of the Year:
- Iain Graham, Deptford – winner
- Lyndsey Fenwick, Gateshead Riverside – runner up
Charity Star:
- Ian Proud, Gateshead Riverside – winner
- Graeme Bradley, Gateshead Riverside – runner up
Excellence in Customer Service:
- Carl Wood, Chester-le-Street – winner
- Peter Dobson, Washington – runner up
- Dennis Crighton, Chester-le-Street – special commendation
Team GNE Star:
- Emilia Fengriffin, Saltmeadows Road – winner
- Daniel Graham, Bensham – runner up
Leadership Award:
- Shirley Connell, Gateshead Riverside – winner
- John Newton, Chester-le-Street – runner up
Team of the Year:
- Q3 driving team – winner
- Saltmeadows Road Body Shop – runner up
- Ticketer project team – highly commended
Depot of the Year:
- Washington depot – winner
- Hexham depot – runner up
Internal customer service:
- Alison Tindle, Bensham
- Arek Zuzak, Gateshead Riverside
- Ben Lowery, Bensham
- Chris Green, Gateshead Riverside
- Chris Stewart, Bensham
- Graham Hill, Bensham
- Katie Chapman, Deptford
- Michael Rich, Gateshead Riverside
- Paul Duff, Gateshead Riverside
- Stephanie Bell, Bensham
