Nominate your Council superstar!

Orkney Islands Council is calling for nominations from the community for its employee award scheme – the VIP Awards.

It’s the second year of the awards, which are aimed at recognising service which reflects OIC’s values - People, Unity, Trust, Ownership and Creativity – with VIP standing for ‘Values In Practice’.

The Council received 87 nominations in last year’s awards, with almost a quarter (22%) coming from the Orkney community. 

Karen Greaves, the Council’s Corporate Director for Strategy, Performance and Business Solutions, explains why this community input is so important – and why it’s hoped the Council can increase the number of nominations coming in from the Orkney public: 

“The Awards are of course a chance to recognise great work by our employees and share the successes which embody and reflect the Council values.

"But they’re also a fantastic way to hold up a mirror and hear from the community about the services they value and hold dear, and what we are doing really well.

“In the financial climate all local councils are facing, its crucial we understand the impact our services have on people’s lives.”

The VIP awards launched in September 2023 to highlight great work across three categories – Customer Focus, Working Together, and Creativity. 

Nominations are invited three times per year and are reviewed by a panel of colleagues from across the Council who put forward two finalists per category, per round. Winners for each category are then selected by the Council’s Corporate Leadership Team - and these are announced at the Awards Ceremony each year.

Would you like to acknowledge great work by an OIC team or staff member? Remember - everybody’s work at the Council impacts on the community and all people in all roles can be nominated for an award.

This year we are making it even easier for you to nominate and now have nomination boxes in a number of key locations across the mainland and in the isles, including schools, libraries and care homes. You can find your nearest one via an interactive map at the link below.

You can learn more at orkney.gov.uk/VIPAwards or submit a nomination at orkney.gov.uk/nominate.