The awards have a range of 12 categories to choose from with no limit to the number you can enter your employees into.
Awards Categories
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For exceptional bravery and courage, this control room employee may have overcome adversity in their own life or have supported others as they face adversity.
Criteria
Detail about the circumstances or incident that prompted the nominee to demonstrate their bravery and courage.
Personal accounts of how the nominee demonstrated their bravery and courage.
Real life examples of how that individual has inspired those around them to behave with bravery and courage.
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For outstanding skills and capabilities when handling 999 or 101 calls as a call taker on one occasion or across multiple incidents.
Criteria
• At least one example of outstanding skill in handling an incident, explaining the circumstances and actions.
• Evidence of inspiring others in the control room to deliver exceptional service in their role as a call taker.
• Evidence of going above and beyond their call of duty and a compelling reason for being worthy of this award.
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For outstanding leadership in the control room through leading people, creating substantive organisational change, inspiring others, managing relationships, building trust and delivering exceptional results.
Criteria
• Tell us how this person has created and built buy-in for the vision in his or her organisation, department or team.
• Example(s) of creating a positive culture for employees in the team evidenced through trust, engagement and openness to feedback.
• Measurable positive impact in the organisation, department or team through the leader’s actions.
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For true team spirit in the control room, demonstrated through exceptional collaboration and high-performance results and outcomes for the people they're serving in the community.
Criteria
• Tell us how ‘special’ team spirit has enabled the delivery of outstanding results for the organisation, department or team, or for the wider community in which it serves.
• Demonstration of passion and pride for the collective work of the team using real-life examples.
• Evidence that this team has been acknowledged within the organisation, or if not, why it should have been using examples.
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For the control room employee who has their local community at the heart of everything they do – at work and outside – through excellent community relations, including fundraising and supporting the vulnerable.
Criteria
At least one example of selfless commitment to supporting the wider community in which they serve and inhabit.
Demonstration of passion and pride for their role in supporting the community around the control room.
Real-life examples of praise from members of the community about the individual with details of the circumstances.
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For outstanding skills and capabilities when handling 999 or 101 calls as a dispatcher on one occasion or across multiple incidents.
Criteria
• At least one example of outstanding skill in handling an incident, explaining the circumstances and actions.
• Tell us how this person has collaborated with colleagues and partner agencies to deliver an outstanding end-result in an emergency.
• Tell us how this person has gone above and beyond their call of duty and a compelling reason for being worthy of this award.
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For outstanding achievement and contribution over a period of long service in the control room, this person is widely acknowledged as having reached the pinnacle of their service.
Criteria
• A history of at least 10 years’ distinguished service within a control room or associated emergency service and/or public safety function.
• At least one example of a lasting contribution in critical control room operations with a definite and positive influence.
• At least one example of outstanding leadership, inspiring others and gaining the respect of professional peers.
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For control room employees up to the age of 30 who have excelled in their employment, training or education in the control room, or has overcome substantial barriers in reaching where they are today.
Criteria
• Tell us how this person has made a significant contribution to the success of their team.
• At least one example of performing beyond the expectations associated with someone of their age (under 30) and experience.
• At least one example of proactive self-development in their skillset for their control room role Demonstration of passion and pride for their work using real-life examples.
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For the person who goes above and beyond in raising the profile of the control room profession on a local, national or international level. This person may not be eligible for the Lifetime Achievement Award having less than 10 years’ service, but yet has made a lasting contribution in raising the profile of the control room community.
Criteria
• Outlined history of the nominee’s career in the control room and reference to types of roles undertaken. Does not require long length of services, but instead focuses on quality and ability to raise the profile of the control room profession in those roles and during that time.
• One or more specific example of how the individual consistently flies the flag of the control room profession, for example but limited to: Social media activity. Participation in service open days. Internal control room promotion.
• Personal accounts of how the person has inspired those around them in the control room to be proud of what they do.
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Created posthumously in memory of John Gilhooly who served with Scottish Ambulance Service for almost 30 years and recognised as a true #UnsungHero by control room peers. For the person who goes above and beyond in the control room – someone who epitomises the essence of the phrase #UnsungHero.
Criteria
• Relentless devotion to their role in the control room – nothing will ever prevent this person from executing their duties demonstrated by (for example): Perfect attendance Unwavering willingness to support colleagues 100% commitment in times of need.
• Continued service over a period that makes this person indispensable in their control room, but without real recognition.
• Selfless in their commitment. Does it for the joy of helping others and utmost pride in their role as an emergency services or public safety employee.
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For supporting the public with loyalty, this person considers public thinking in all that they do, and not just when inside the control room.
Criteria
• At least one example of when this person has gone above and beyond in embodying the spirit and ethos of public service.
• Can include overcoming challenges to protect public service.
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The British APCO Award is for a team - or an individual - who have taken a unique and/or innovative approach with the tech that is being used in the control room. This will have made a tangible difference for the control room operators and/or the public who are making that critical call seeking help and assurance. This could be someone or a team working in the control room; supporting the IT & Comms equipment; or delivering from a commercial organisation providing advice, guidance, training etc.
Criteria
• Demonstration of commitment and leadership (taking ownership of the task through to completion) of supporting one (or more) control rooms
• Evidence of the difference this has made for the control room operators in their day to day environment or for the public calling the emergency services
• Demonstration of their engagement with the control room team/colleagues in making tech change happen
• Confirmation of how this improvement has been, or will be shared across relevant organisations.
