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Shp Winners 2021
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The Stars of this year’s SHP Awards

  • Publish Date: Posted over 2 years ago

​The winners of the SHP Awards, sponsored this year by Shirley Parsons, have been announced. The SHP Awards celebrate the achievements of health and safety professionals, from young and upcoming stars and promising leaders of the future to our most talented, influential, and skilled specialists and ambassadors of health and safety. 

We are delighted to be sponsoring the awards. Three of our own took part as independent judges: Shona Paterson – Director of Talent Consultancy; Liam Tiddy – Head of Executive Search; Tim Fowler, Senior HSE Consultant for Shirley Parsons Project Services. 

Tim Fowler commented: “My initial thoughts were, to be honest, that the process would be very similar to reviewing CVs for job applications……but how wrong could I be! I was very impressed by the high standard of all entries and the absolute enthusiasm & expertise that shone through from each participant. It was a joy to read every entry, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it gave me great hope for the future of safety in the workplace and our common drive for ‘target zero’ incidents!” 

Shona Paterson, our Director of Talent Consultancy, added: “Overall, I enjoyed the experience of being a judge. After a challenging couple of years, I particularly liked reading the innovation within the entries, overcoming challenges within HSE. There were some great entries in the two areas I was judging, many supported by individuals’ peers. It is great to be part of awards and see recognition being given to people who are doing great things within the HSE sector.”

The winners of the SHP Awards are…

Cindy Bell, The Rising Star Award for Manufacturing and overall Rising Star UK Award

Cindy Bell, SHE Advisor at Greggs, was not only named the winner of the Rising Star Award for Manufacturing but, subsequently, won the overall Rising Star UK Award for her eagerness to engage colleagues through her communication and adaptability for new technology and advancements in HSE in the workplace.

The SHP's Rising Star Award recognises talented young health and safety professionals under the age of 30 across all sectors going above and beyond to improve occupational health, safety, and wellbeing.

Jessica Collings, The Rising Star Award in Construction

The Rising Star in Construction Award was awarded to Jessica Collings, Health and Safety Officer at Great British Communications Ltd. 
Jessica was selected from a list of eight finalists. Her support in maintaining and providing health and safety expertise to the telecommunications sector during the pandemic has been commendable, along with her determination and dedication in guarding the health and wellbeing of others. 

Jessica impressed the judges; she has broken down barriers by being knowledgeable and extraordinary.   

Shari Bowen, International Rising Star Award

Instrumental in the development and safekeeping of health and safety as an HSSE Officer at one of the largest distribution companies in the Caribbean basin, Shari Bowen was recognised for encouragement and safeguarding employees’ physical and mental health during COVID. 

Furthermore, judges noted her social action in supporting and reassuring other Caribbean women working in a male-dominated sector as exemplary. 

Lisa Artis, Trailblazer in Workplace Wellbeing Award

Deputy CEO at The Sleep Charity, Lisa Artis, won the Trailblazer in Workplace Wellbeing Award, recognising individuals who did the most to contribute to people thriving at work, prioritising employees’ wellbeing and mental health. 

Lisa won the award for her contribution in developing a range of free downloadable resources and establishing the first UK sleep helpline, where callers can speak to a trained sleep practitioner for help. 

Her achievements in raising awareness of the importance of sleep and the development of ‘Charter for Sleep Inequality’ that has had over 100 workplaces pledge support.

Highlighting the lack of sleep has on an employee’s abilities, and her focus on mental health was the foremost reason for her winning the Trailblazer in Workplace Welling Award.

Dave McPherson wins the Trailblazer in Health & Safety Award

SHE Manager at Kier Highways, Dave McPherson, won the SHP’s Trailblazer in Health & Safety Award for his impact on workplace safety and transformed safety through creating the USP Competency Framework project. The project brought together a team of leading experts in the UK, across multiple disciplines and sectors, to create an open-source and universal competency framework that could quickly identify the skills required to plan, manage, and deliver their duties effectively and safely. 

Dave’s openness and promotion of technological advancements and improvements in HSEQ have reduced risks across several major construction projects and increased knowledge retention and application for vision and skills in others.

Dr Mavis Nye named SHP’s Most Influential Individual in H&S

Dr Mavis Nye has been named Most Influential Individual for her campaigning, across the globe, on the unknown risks and fatal repercussions of asbestos exposure. She leads a non-profit foundation called Mavis’ foundation, a charity organisation that advocates and supports victims of asbestos exposure, the largest cause of occupational deaths in the UK. 

Dr Mavis Nye is unfortunately also a victim of asbestos exposure. In 2009, she was diagnosed with Terminal Cancer, a sad implication of being exposed to asbestos decades earlier. 

Knowing first-hand how deadly asbestos is, Mavis decided to educate others, notably health and safety professionals, of the risks early on in her chemotherapy. For this, SHP & Shirley Parsons would like to recognise her for the support and tireless effort she has made in pioneering change.

Congratulations to all finalists and winners; this year, a magnificent accomplishment in safeguarding lives and bringing new expertise and technologies into the health and safety profession. Thank you to all finalists for helping to build a better, safer, and more sustainable world.

If you would like to read more about the winners of this year’s SHP Awards, please click here.