Awards and recognition in 2021
These are some of the awards we won in 2021.
Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) Performance Network Awards 2021
- Winner of the Most Improved Performer for Parks, Open Spaces and Horticultural Services
- Winner of the Most Improved Performer for Street Cleansing
The council's street cleansing team scooped first place in the most improved performer category for 'street cleansing', which is a testament to the teams who have been out making sure the borough's streets and towns are maintained to the highest of standards.
The second win was awarded to the grounds maintenance teams, who won the most improved performer in 'parks, open spaces and horticultural services', with the service also nominated as the best performer in the same category.
The council was also nominated as a best performer for 'refuse collection', which goes some way to acknowledge the amount of excess waste the crews have had to deal with throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, with no disruption to service.
Local Government Chronicle Economic Support award winner
Rochdale’s bold approach to regeneration and job creation has been recognised with success at the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) awards, the UK’s most prestigious awards for officers and politicians in local government. Rochdale’s continued ambition was highlighted in the submission by the town’s radical plans for future prosperity, including the Advanced Machinery and Productivity Institute (AMPI), a centre of excellence to help UK businesses develop next generation machine tools. Other projects named in the successful submission include the restoration of the Victorian Grade I listed town hall and the council’s rail corridor strategy.
In Bloom awards
We and our partner organisations were awarded an incredible 16 gold awards, including:
- Best small cities - Rochdale In Bloom and Middleton In Bloom.
- Best large towns - Heywood In Bloom.
- Best town centre - Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton.
- Large parks - Queen's Park, Heywood.
- Large village - Norden in Bloom.
- Pocket park - Norden Jubilee Park, Rochdale.
- Small park - Jubilee Park, Rochdale
- Best newcomer - Norden in Bloom.
- Best small tourist attraction - Healey Dell Heritage Centre and Tea Rooms.
Green Flag Awards
All 10 parks managed and maintained by the council across the borough of Rochdale have achieved a well-deserved green flag once again for 2020-2021.
This international award recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces and is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible environmental standards; are kept beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities.
The MJ Achievement Award 2021 for Community Heroes
The council's community response team won the Community Heroes award at the Municipal Journal (MJ) Local Government Achievement Awards. The MJ believes that the best local government services and personnel should be recognised. It's one of the major events within the public sector calendar.
Judges praised the impressive way people came together to solve problems, and share skills to provide a cohesive response to the needs that arose during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The MJ Achievement Award 2021 for Innovation in Children's Services
The council's children's services team won the Innovation in Children's Services award at the Municipal Journal (MJ) Local Government Achievement Awards.
The Safe After School programme, which aims to improve understanding of child safeguarding at unregulated activities and clubs, took top spot at the ceremony. Judges were impressed by the simplicity of the programme, which adopted a co-production and whole community approach and championed community ambassadors.
Tripadvisor 2021 Travellers' Choice award
Hollingworth Lake in Littleborough has been recognised as a 2021 Travellers' Choice award winner ranking in the top 10 per cent of places to visit worldwide.
These awards celebrate businesses and places that consistently deliver outstanding experiences to people around the globe, having earned great traveller reviews on Tripadvisor over the last 12 months.
Sitemorse Q2 2021 Local Government INDEX
The council's website came fifth out of over 400 websites tested in the Sitemorse UK Local Government INDEX for the second quarter (April–June) in 2021.
The INDEX ranks local government websites across the whole UK for areas including performance, compliance, accessibility and quality. This demonstrates our commitment to making our website accessible to all.
Disability Confident
Disability Confident is a government scheme designed to encourage employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with health conditions. A self-assessment is undertaken every 2 years to ensure we still meet the criteria and can retain the status.
Internet Crystal Mark 2021
The council's website achieved the Internet Crystal Mark for the eighth consecutive year, which shows our commitment to plain English throughout the website.
Children and Young People Now Awards
The Sunrise Team, Rochdale's multi-agency complex safeguarding team dedicated to tackling child criminal and sexual exploitation, won the Public Sector Children's Team Award in the Children and Young People Now Awards.
There were over 600 entries into the hotly contested awards, which highlight the very best in work with children, young people and families.