Fairway Healthcare and Embark Learning held their first-ever awards ceremony at Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens this month.
The event, hosted by Floella Benjamin, was created to celebrate individuals and organisations who are working tirelessly to raise standards within the care sector. The evening saw mayors, MPs, councillors, carers, partners and learners gather from across the West Midlands.
Alex O’Neill, operations director at Fairway and Embark, said his team were ‘absolutely delighted’ to have hosted the first-ever care awards. He explained the event was about much more than simply recognition – it was ‘about celebrating the partnerships and passion that make real change possible in the care sector.’
In similar vein, the awards celebrated achievements of those who overcame challenges in order to build a career in care. For example, young people who didn’t finish their education or previously struggled to find work.
Winners included The King’s Trust (Outstanding Contribution to Youth Employment), the Department for Work and Pensions (Referral Partner of the Year), and Clarion Housing Group (Outstanding Employability Partner). David Brookes of the DWP received the award for Outstanding Contribution to Employment.
Several individuals and organisations were also highly commended, including Serco, Smart Works Birmingham, Ingeus, and National Careers Service.
‘The stories we heard and the achievements we celebrated remind us why we do what we do. Whether it’s supporting young people into their first role, helping someone previously out of work build a new career, or recognising the everyday heroes who provide care with compassion, every journey matters,’ O’Neill continued.
‘We are so proud of what has been achieved so far, but this is only the beginning. Together, with the support of our incredible partners and communities, we are building stronger pathways into care and changing perceptions, while creating a brighter, more sustainable future for the sector.’
Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich via Pexels
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