Generation BEST celebrate national success
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EmailCongratulations are due to a triumphant team from Generation BEST who have won a coveted national award. Generation BEST members, Paul Lowney and Catherine Poyner, who currently work on the Excellence in People Management programme within the Chief Executive’s Directorate beat off competition from across the country to scoop the Young Local Authority of the Year award in the English Metropolitan Borough Council category.
Generation BEST aims to empower younger members of staff to reach their full potential and promote the value younger employees bring to the workplace. The network aims to be as inclusive as possible, offering development and networking opportunities for employees who are young in age or at an early stage in their career, whatever age they may be.
Catherine Poyner and Paul Lowney speaking at the Young Local Authority Competition 2009
The Young Local Authority of the Year awards is just one of many ways in which Generation BEST members are encouraged to develop personal and professional skills. This year, six members of the network had a unique opportunity to represent Birmingham at the awards, showcasing their talent amongst competitors from councils across the UK.
This year’s fourth annual Young Local Authority of the Year competition was held in Lancaster on 16th and 17th February. The prestigious award is open to council staff at the early stages of their career and aims to enhance competitors’ written and verbal communication skills, whilst contributing to the professional development of new talent within local government.
The winning team will now go on to represent Birmingham for the overall title of Young Local Authority of the Year 2009 at the final of the competition to be held on 21st March in Lancaster.
Speaking ahead of the final, Councillor Alan Rudge, Cabinet Member for Equalities and HR and Cabinet Sponsor for BEST said: “Congratulations to Catherine and Paul who won the event, and also the four other employees who represented the Council at these awards. I am passionate about developing our internal talent and dedicated to ensuring that employees of all ages have access to opportunities to excel and develop their careers here. The chance to compete at these awards through Generation BEST is a fantastic opportunity for our younger staff to showcase their knowledge on a national stage.”
In order to win the Young Local Authority of the Year award, teams compete in pairs against rivals from other councils to research and write a presentation on a current interest or controversial topic. They then deliver their argument in front of a panel of judges and a 100 strong audience. After presenting their paper they are questioned by the adjudicator on issues relating to their chosen topic. Finally each team is put ‘On the Spot’ where they must answer a question without notes in as close to three minutes as they can. Judges award marks for the quality of writing, research and public speaking, as well for an original choice of subject.
Paul and Catherine’s winning paper addressed the misconception amongst Britain’s white working-class communities that Government housing policies favour ethnic minorities, especially in the current economic crisis. They were praised by the judges for their calm and coherent approach to the subject and for handling questions with insight and intelligence.
Birmingham’s two other Generation BEST teams also impressed. Agne Selemonaite and Andrew Wayro from Development and Culture took to the stage to defend Birmingham as an attractive, creative city with ambitious plans for regeneration under the Big City Plan. The judges applauded their well-researched, detailed and passionate paper.
Siobhan Brittland and Margit Lear from BEST and EPM respectively, in the Chief Executive’s Directorate, spoke about the growing retirement population and explored how Extra Care Retirement villages were being developed to create a more vibrant quality of life for older people. The judges were impressed by their ‘powerful, passionate and articulate presentation with a refreshing, original approach’.
Catherine and Paul with their reward
In the end it was Paul and Catherine’s outstanding and highly commended ‘On the Spot’ performance, which won them the title.
Commenting on the team’s success Catherine said: “Working with Paul I have improved my team work skills, learning that compromise can be positive. Taking part in the competition with two other teams from Birmingham gave me the opportunity to get to know Council staff from other business areas, gaining an insight into the variety of jobs available in the Council. I would definitely recommend taking part in the competition to other Council staff. It is quite a lot of work, but more than worth it!”
For Paul, pride at representing Birmingham in a national competition was the main highlight: “I was just glad that Birmingham won, whether it was me or the other team members, who were very close to taking the prize and all presented excellent papers. The event demonstrated that local government is an exciting place to work, which throws up many unexpected opportunities and experiences.”
If you would like to represent Birmingham in next year’s Young Local Authority of the Year competition, or to take part in any other of the exciting and developmental Generation BEST activities, then please get in touch. You can find an online application form by logging onto Inline and going to the Generation BEST Pages within the BEST Pages or email the ‘Generationbest’ mailbox or phone 675 1579.
