Train operator, Northern Rail, beat stiff competition from some of the UK’s largest brands to win the Gold Award for Strategy at this year’s Institute of Internal Communications Awards.
The award was in recognition for the Northern Stars programme, which celebrates employee’s actions and going over and above what is expected of them in their daily duties.
The scheme won its category for ‘Reward and Recognition communications’ followed by the overall award competed for by all winners in each category – tipped as ‘the best of the best’ of the competition.
The judges highlighted Northern’s attention to detail with the execution of the campaign, the partnership with Passenger Focus and its use of sponsorship in order to keep investment to a minimum. The award achieved full marks in all categories.
Pete Myers, Head of Service Quality of Northern Rail, comments: “We couldn’t be happier to have won the Gold award, considering our competition came from the likes of Barclays, O2, Post Office and Sainsburys.
“We are extremely proud of our employees and the our Northern Stars scheme celebrates everything that is great and good about them.”
The Judges commented: “It is clear Northern Rail launched a practical, cost-effective, engaging campaign that appealed to the hearts and minds of its employees.
“The campaign gives them a renewed sense of pride in the organisation and their contribution to it and involving customers and the external community to positive effect.”
The Northern Stars campaign sees passengers send in nominations for employees who have helped them in a way that goes beyond what is expected of them.
Last year’s winner, Gair Urwin, was nominated several times for a number of outstanding acts, including driving a group of tourists to another station when their train was cancelled in heavy snow, on his day off.
The Institute of Internal Communications Awards were held at London’s Hilton Park Lane Hotel.
