Awards and achievements

Overview

We have a clear focus on improving outcomes in South Tyneside and often receive national recognition for our achievements.

When our services are recognised for the outstanding work they carry out, there are several positive effects such as:

raising staff morale
inspiring community confidence in our services
allowing others to learn from our examples of good practice

We are very proud of what we've achieved.

See the following pages for recent awards.

2024 awards and achievements

Keep Britain Tidy Awards: Climate Action Award (Finalist)

The Viking Energy Network Jarrow has been nominated for another national award, they are a finalist for the Climate Action Award at the Keep Britain Tidy Conference in January 2025.

APSE Performance Network Awards 2024: Most Improved (Finalist)

Hebburn Central has been shortlisted in the sports and leisure facility management category of the Association of Public Service Excellence Performance Network Awards 2024.

They are finalists in the most improved facility category.

The ceremony takes place on 5 December: APSE Performance Network Awards 2024

National Boiler and Heating Project at the National Energy Efficiency Awards 2024

0800 Repair ECO with South Tyneside Council won the award for the 'National Boiler and Heating Project of the year' at the National Energy Efficiency Awards 2024.

This award recognises the efforts of all those involved in delivering a successful energy saving project, where new energy efficient boilers or heating systems have been installed.

North East & Cumbria Awards for the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transport: Project of the Year (Shortlisted) and Sustainable Project of the Year (Highly Commended)

Three South Tyneside Council projects were shortlisted in the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transport's North East and Cumbria Awards 2024.

Both the Coast Road Realignment project and the Healthier Metro Scheme were shortlisted in the Project of the Year category.

The South Tyneside Electric Vehicle Charging Point Network was shortlisted, and awarded a highly commended award, in the Sustainable Project of the Year category.

Park Mark and Park Access Awards

Many of our Council managed car parks have achieved the prestigious Park Mark and Park Access awards.

This is a fantastic achievement recognising that our car parks have measures in place to actively deter crime and the fear of crime.

For more information, see British Parking Association: Park Mark and Park Access awarded to South Tyneside Council.

RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) UK Awards 2024: Public Sector Project (Winner)

The Viking Energy Network Jarrow (VENJ) is South Tyneside Council's cutting-edge renewable energy scheme. It is the first of its kind in the UK to utilise a combination of three renewable energy sources.

After winning in the North East awards, VENJ won in the public sector project category at the prestigious national RICS Awards 2024.

Leadership in Responding to the Climate Emergency (Shortlisted)

South Tyneside Council was one of six local authorities across the country to be shortlisted in the 2024 MJ Awards 'Leadership in Responding to the Climate Emergency' category.

Public / Private Partnership Award (Shortlisted)

South Tyneside Pledge was shortlisted in the 'Public / Private Partnership' category of the 2024 LGC Awards.

Over 250 public, private and voluntary organisations have signed the South Tyneside Pledge since its launch in 2022, adding £3m a year to the borough's economy through their commitment to spending, recruiting and supporting South Tyneside.

Net Zero Award (Shortlisted)

The innovative Viking Energy Network, the UK-first renewable energy scheme which harnesses heat from the River Tyne, earned South Tyneside Council a spot on the official shortlist of the LGC's Net Zero 2024 Award.

Small Team of the Year Award (Shortlisted)

The Organisational Development team, created in 2022 as part of the Our Council Change Programme, has helped to accelerate culture change through leadership development, learning, support and wellbeing offers for employees and elected members.

They were shortlisted in the Small Team of the Year Award at the 2024 LGC Awards.

APSE Service Awards 2024: Best Climate Action or Decarbonisation Initiative (Winner)

South Tyneside was named winner of the 'Best Climate Action or Decarbonisation' category of the 2024 APSE Annual Service Awards for it's work on the innovative Viking Energy Network Jarrow renewable energy scheme.

APSE Service Awards 2024: Overall Council of the Year (Shortlisted)

South Tyneside was named as a finalist in the 'Overall Council of the Year' category of the 2024 APSE Annual Service Awards.

APSE Service Awards 2024: Best Workforce Initiative (Shortlisted)

The Council was named as a finalist in the 'Best Workforce Initiative' category of the 2024 APSE Annual Service Awards in recognition of work to bolster organisational development and deliver a range of improvements for the workforce.

APSE Service Awards 2024: Best Health and Wellbeing Initiative including Social Care (Shortlisted)

South Tyneside Council was shortlisted in the 2024 APSE Service Awards for the category of 'Best Health and Wellbeing Initiative including Social Care' for its work on an innovative Virtual Memory Box, a digital tool which helps children in care capture and reflect on important photographs and memories as they grow up.

APSE Service Awards 2024: Best Community and Neighbourhood Initiative (Shortlisted)

South Tyneside Council was shortlisted for the 'Best Community and Neighbourhood Initiative' in the 2024 APSE Service Awards in recognition of work undertaken with partners to support residents to navigate cost of living pressures over recent years.

APSE Service Awards 2024: Best Sports, Culture and Leisure Team (Shortlisted)

South Tyneside Council's Leisure Services were named as finalists in the Sports, Leisure and Culture 'Team of the Year' award at the APSE Service Awards 2024. The team have overseen a wide array of leisure services in recent years, upgrading facilities, increasing memberships, improving customer services, and supporting residents to improve their health and wellbeing.

Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme: Gold Status (Awarded)

South Tyneside was once again awarded gold status as part of the Ministry of Defence's Employer Recognition Scheme, because of our continued commitment to the Armed Forces community.

Since first earning the award in 2018, the Council has worked with partners to further strengthen support for military personnel, validating its 'gold' status as an advocate for the Armed Forces.

Further Education and Employability 2024: Quality Collaboration of the Year (Shortlisted)

The South Tyneside Works Quality Assurance team were named as finalists in the 'Quality Collaboration of the Year' category at the 2024 Quality Professional Awards for Further Education and Employability.

The shortlisting recognises South Tyneside Works' collaborative work with teams in neighbouring Durham County Council, Gateshead Council and Sunderland City Council, which has supported continuous review and improvement of collective quality assurance arrangements.

LACA School Chef of the Year 2024: North East and Scotland (Finalist)

Ellen Crookes, South Tyneside Catering Services Chef at Mortimer Community College, was a finalist in the School Chef of the Year Awards for the North East and Scotland region.

Both Joanne Murray and Cherly Buie from Jarrow School were also successful in the 2024 National LACA Finishing Touches competition.

Cheryl won best in class for her biscuit entry and Joanne won a merit.

Degree Apprenticeship of the Year (Winner) & Health and Public Service Apprentice of the Year (Highly Commended

Hayley Lord, South Tyneside Council's Employment & Skills Manager, was named as Degree Apprentice of the Year at the North East Apprenticeships Awards 2024.

She was additionally highly commended in the Health and Public Service Apprentice of the Year category. Hayley undertook an MBA Senior Leader Apprenticeship with the University of Sunderland.

2023 awards and achievements

'101 Achievements of Labour in Power' Report (Showcased)

South Tyneside Council has been highlighted several times in the LGA Labour '101 Achievements of Labour in Power' report.

The report mentioned our:

Winter readiness scheme
Viking Energy Network in Jarrow
Adoption of the Mockingbird fostering model
South Tyneside Pledge

National Healthy Housing Awards 2023 (Commendation of Excellence)

South Tyneside Council's innovative 'See and Solve' service was recognised with a Commendation of Excellence at the National Healthy Housing Awards 2023 due to the difference it is making to the lives of residents.

The service has dramatically cut waiting lists for people wanting to see an occupational therapist by providing quick assessments and simple home modifications which support people to live safely and independently in their homes.

Prolific North Awards 2023 - Tech for Good (Winner)

The Virtual Memory Box, a digital platform which helps young people in care to capture important memories and milestones, won the 'Tech for Good' category in the prestigious Prolific North Awards.

The digital tool, created by software developer Nebula Labs in partnership with South Tyneside Council, was first honed and piloted in South Tyneside and is now being rolled out by local authorities across the country.

Green flag awards (Winners)

Six parks in South Tyneside have received the prestigious Green Flag award for quality placing them among the best green spaces in the country.

Both South Marine Park and West Park South Shields have reclaimed the title, while others to secure the award again this year include Monkton Dene, North Marine, Readhead and West Park Jarrow.