Churchill Group wouldn’t be possible without our Shining Stars. That’s why we recently gathered more than 150 Churchill colleagues, clients and suppliers at the Institute of Directors in Pall Mall, London, to recognise their success.
The Shining Star Awards are our annual opportunity to shine a spotlight on the remarkable people within our business who go above and beyond. Here’s a little bit more about each of our 2024 winners.
To the Moon and Back: Paola Ramirez (Portfolio)
Paola won this award for her outstanding customer service and leadership. She has made significant service improvements through her mentoring of a team member during their apprenticeship and her proactive exploration of new equipment and products. Paola’s innovative spirit and dedication to constant growth have led to exceptional customer satisfaction, making her a well-deserved winner.
The Inspirer: Chloe Hampson (South West)
Chloe won because of her exceptional talent for inspiring others and her unwavering commitment to the Churchill Group’s success. She consistently shares best practices, innovative ideas, and successful projects with her team, motivating them to new heights. Chloe’s generosity, intelligence, and genuine desire for collective success make her a genuine leader and an asset to the company.
The Talented Newbie: Illia Korol (Churchill, Southern)
Since joining Churchill in April 2023, Illia has shown incredible commitment and flexibility. Despite the challenges of relocating from Ukraine, Illia quickly transitioned from a cleaner to a gardener, transforming Dover Seafront with his landscaping skills. Taking on additional cleaning duties in the winter and pursuing English lessons to improve communication demonstrates an incredible dedication.
The Go Getter: Jonathan Williams (Central)
Jonathan’s skilful management of a large group of school contracts resulted in significant growth, expanding the portfolio from 13 to 27 schools and increasing its value from £600,000 to £1 million. His nominator highlighted the strong relationships he has built with both onsite teams and clients, with one client praising his integration with their values. His proactive approach and unwavering commitment has led to the growth of the account and the introduction of a lead account manager role.
Apprentice Extraordinaire: Mark Reay (Shared Services)
Mark’s work ethic and his positive influence on the team were key to his award win. While juggling a busy role and a CIPD Level 7 apprenticeship, Mark continues to apply his learning to improve the ER team and support apprentices in their development. Mark’s ability to solve problems creatively, combined with his sense of humour, has been enormously beneficial to the team, particularly during challenging times. His military background adds to his strong work ethic, and his resolved ACAS cases have been incredibly valuable to the company.
Impact Employee Award: Hannah Bridgman (Amulet)
Hannah has shown exceptional leadership in various ESG and community initiatives. Her passion for giving back is unmatched, from cleaning enclosures at London Zoo, to marathons and challenges like the Tough Mudder. She’s been central to community-building activities such as the Step Challenge, Sleep Out, and WellMe Walk. She’s shown us all how dedication to the Amulet community and pushing ESG advocacy can set a high standard for others to aspire to.
Game Changer M&A – Theodora Dobre (Transport)
Theodora won for her outstanding support of her team. She consistently steps up, treating every site with care and providing invaluable assistance to new managers. Whether it’s redistributing stock or covering for absent managers, Theodora’s initiative boosts morale and operational efficiency. Her managers and colleagues deeply appreciate her dedication.
Game Changer – Front Line: Iole Maffei (Churchill, London)
Iole quickly made a positive impact during her first few weeks as a supervisor. By restructuring the cleaning operation, pinpointing training gaps, and implementing new task schedules, she significantly improved client inspection scores and monthly KPI results. Her strategic approach to audits and tracking matrices earned an ‘excellent’ rating during our emergency preparedness audit. Iole’s innovative recruitment and change management strategies improved employee turnover and morale, helping colleagues achieve new standards for excellence.
Everyday Hero: Raymond Black (Churchill, Central)
Raymond’s dedication to our core values played a huge role in securing a significant contract renewal with one of our clients. His ability to take the initiative and solve problems helped extend the partnership for 5+2 years. He’s respected for his reliability, positive attitude, and expertise in managing specialist tasks, while working various shifts to ensure top-quality service.
Dream Team: Port of Dover (Churchill, Southern)
The Port of Dover team received recognition for their outstanding service, consistently showing professionalism, adaptability, and commitment in a challenging high-volume setting. Their work is critical, especially during busy periods like holiday getaways, strikes and extreme weather conditions. Despite these difficulties, the team consistently performs to the highest standards, acting as frontline representatives and ambassadors for the Port of Dover.
Click here to learn more about our Dream Team Award.
The Ultimate Star: Lisa Douglass (Transport)
Lisa won thanks to her incredible empathy and care during a difficult situation. When an elderly lady fell, Lisa stayed by her side, offering comfort while they waited over two hours for an ambulance. Her compassion left a lasting impression on the client and the lady’s family, who expressed their deep gratitude for Lisa’s support during such a distressing time. Lisa’s kindness and patience are a true reflection of her remarkable character.
The Shining Super Star: Katie Wood (Churchill, Scotland and North)
Katie was recognised for her exceptional work at NPG. She consistently maintains high standards while being accommodating and hardworking. She takes immense pride in keeping the depot immaculate, and everyone she works with appreciates her professionalism and positive attitude. Katie goes above and beyond her cleaning duties, bringing joy to her colleagues with her homemade treats and unwavering willingness to help. Her thoughtfulness and generosity make her a truly valued member of the team.
Exceptional Achievement: George Mitchell (Amulet)
George helped prevent a young woman from taking her life, and an ex-police negotiator praised his calm presence. At the Rail Staff Awards, George received high praise for his actions. Since then, he has actively supported the Samaritans’ “Small Talk Saves Lives” campaign by sharing his story at major train stations, and distributed leaflets to local primary schools. His efforts have earned him respect and made him an exemplary representative of Amulet and Northern Trains.
Click here to find out more about our Exceptional Achievement Award winner.
All our Shining Stars remind us that our greatest strength lies in our people. Whether it’s a small act of kindness, a bold leadership move, or a transformative impact on the community, these stories inspire all of us to strive for excellence every day. Congratulations to all our winners.