A finance expert, whose advice has helped Bolton residents save thousands, has been recognised for his dedication to customer service.
Development worker Shakeel Ahmed, who works in Bolton Council’s Money Skills team, scooped the top prize at Bolton’s Best Staff Awards.
The Best Customer Care award, support by the Bolton News, was presented to Shakeel after he won a public and staff vote.
Since 2015, Shakeel has helped more than 300 people to save an average of £160 each by providing money saving tips and helping customers to switch energy suppliers.
Shakeel was nominated for his patience, commitment and “obvious enjoyment of his role”.
The annual Bolton’s Best Staff Awards saw teams and individuals from across the council recognised in categories including innovation, lifetime achievement and best young worker.
This year, an additional special award was handed to workers who supported the emergency services during the moorland fires on Winter Hill.
They included highway workers who closed roads to keep the public safe and neighbourhood management teams who cut down trees to stop the fire from spreading.
Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Linda Thomas, said:
“Congratulations to Shakeel on his much-deserved award, and well done to all the winners and nominees on the night.
“All our staff do an incredible job under difficult circumstances.
“The Winter Hill fire earlier this year was a perfect illustration of this, and the special award was fitting recognition for the vital role our staff played in keeping our communities safe.”
Bolton’s Best Staff Awards were held at the Albert Halls on Wednesday night. The full cost of the evening is generously covered through sponsorship from the council’s IT supplier Agilisys.
Full list of winners:
- Best Customer Care: Shakeel Ahmed
- Best Manager: Carla Lord
- Best Team: Bolton Library and Museum Services
- Best Team Member: Diane Sharples
- Best Young Worker: Blerta Zhitia
- Innovation, Improvement, and Sustainability: Heaton Fold Garden Centre / Laburnum Lodge
- Lifetime Achievement: Chris Callaghan
- Partnership Working: Chris Parker
- Unsung Hero: Duncan Sykes
- Special Award: All staff who worked to tackle the Winter Hill fire
- Special Award to Anne Gorton of the Policy, Performance and Workforce team. As head of service, Anne steered the council through the recent Ofsted inspection and worked day, night and weekends to ensure everything ran as smoothly as possible.
- Long Service Awards for 40 years’ service with the council –
Val Fogg, Pupil and Student Services
Linda Tong from Legal Services Corporate and Environmental team
Susan Hood from the Assessment and Care Management Team
Alan Mylrea from Handyman and Gardener Services
John Gaskell from Cleansing and Grounds Maintenance
David Smith, refuse loader