When a young person takes their first steps into the world of work, unsure of themselves but quietly hopeful, they often carry more than nerves.
A safe, supportive route into employment can be the difference between simply coping and truly succeeding. It can be the start of a life changing journey.
Across Devon, that difference is being made because of the commitment and compassion of people like Nickie Mallett, whose work is transforming lives behind the scenes.
This week, her efforts were brought into the spotlight as Devon County Council held its first Celebration Event, recognising staff who go above and beyond to make Devon a place where people can thrive.
Nickie, a Recruitment and Retention Advisor, won the Inclusivity Advocate award for her exceptional work removing barriers and building brighter futures by supporting care experienced young people into employment.
Through creating safe, supportive work experience and employment pathways, she has helped young people build confidence, routines and vital skills that will serve them for life.
Alongside this, she has been a strong advocate for recognising care experience as a protected characteristic, ensuring inequalities are better understood and young people’s voices are heard.
Judges praised her dedication, courage and belief in young people’s potential, describing her work as not just opening doors but changing lives.
Her work strengthens communities by giving young people a fairer start, greater independence and a reason to believe in themselves, foundations that help them stay rooted in Devon and contribute positively to the places they call home.
Her story set the tone for an event that recognised the often-unseen work of the council’s staff in complex and demanding roles, supporting Devon’s communities with vital public services.
When major change is happening, strong leadership behind the scenes can mean the difference between disruption and stability. That is why Vinnie Grist, a Transformation Programme and Project Manager, was named winner of the Individual Outstanding Contribution award.
When Devon faced the complex challenge of local government reorganisation, Vinnie stepped up. Taking on significant responsibility, he brought teams together from across the council and worked closely with partners, often under intense pressure.
For families across Devon, securing a school place can be one of the most important moments in a child’s life.
The Admissions Team in Children and Young People’s Futures, winners of the Team Outstanding Contribution award, understand that better than anyone. Their work supports thousands of families each year, ensuring children have access to education and opportunity.
Alongside managing school admissions, this team recently made a simple change with a powerful impact. By automatically enrolling eligible families for Free School Meals, they ensure children who need extra support, that makes a real difference to their education and wellbeing, receive it without additional bureaucracy or stigma. The positive change has also resulted in hundreds of families not having to worry about finding money for school lunches.
In adult social care, change is rarely easy. Services must adapt while continuing to support some of the county’s most vulnerable residents.
That responsibility sits at the heart of Jeff Walker’s work, guiding colleagues through periods of major change in services for older people, which earned him the Pillar of Support award.
As a Senior Business Change Manager, Jeff’s role involves helping teams navigate complex and uncertain periods while keeping services running smoothly.
Colleagues describe him as a steady presence, and someone who brings clarity and empathy when it is needed most. His reassurance during challenging times helped colleagues stay focused and resilient and ensure older residents continued to receive reliable, high-quality care.
Judges praised his empathy and ability to help people feel heard and confident.
Strong relationships and trust are essential in public services, especially during times of change. That is why Rosalind Johnson, winner of the Relationship Builder award, stood out to judges for her work following the introduction of a new finance system.
During an unsettling period, she spotted where colleagues needed clarity, reassurance and space to be heard. Her calm and collaborative approach brought people together, encouraged open conversations and helped teams find solutions collectively. She listened carefully, explained clearly and helped her colleagues build confidence at a crucial time.
This ensured the smooth delivery of services for the people who depend on them and shows how strong relationships sit at the heart of effective public services, because when colleagues feel supported, communities benefit.
Innovation that improves lives was recognised through the Being an Innovator award, won by Laura Ellison, who has developed creative and practical support that helps young people feel capable and connected.
Through initiatives such as community-based clubs and inclusive learning spaces, she has created safe, welcoming spaces for young people to gain life skills, build confidence and independence, achieve qualifications and give back to their communities. Alongside this, Laura’s leadership in neurodiversity has also helped create more inclusive and understanding services.
Public services rely not only on experience, but on investing in future talent. Few stories capture that better than that of Paiton Crawley, winner of the Rising Star award.
Paiton began her career as an apprentice and now leads a high-performing team responsible for processing more than £2 billion in payments each year. Her pivotal work implementing a new system helps the council ensure suppliers are paid accurately, securely and on time.
Paiton’s journey shows what can be achieved when talent is nurtured and why strong public services depend on people growing and succeeding within them.
The Celebration Event marked the first time Devon County Council has formally brought together colleagues from across such a wide range of services to recognise this breadth of contribution.
Donna Manson, Devon County Council’s Chief Executive, said:
“Most people will never meet the individuals mentioned here, but they will feel the impact of their work, in a child being supported at school, an older relative receiving good care, or a young person being given a chance.
“Much of what our staff do happens quietly and without recognition, but it touches real lives every single day, and it deserves to be celebrated.
“They are helping others through some of life’s hardest moments.
“This event was about, saying thank you for their kindness and determination that goes into supporting people across Devon.”
Highly commended
As well as the award winners, judges also wanted to recognise several individuals and teams whose work stood out for its impact on people and communities across Devon. Each was highly commended in their award category.
For the Individual Outstanding Contribution award, Maciej Krzyminski was highly commended for turning a simple idea into something lifechanging. By creating work experience opportunities during school holidays, he has helped disadvantaged young people across Devon build confidence, develop skills and take positive steps towards employment and independence.
In the Team Outstanding Contribution category, the Care Home Contract and Fee Team in Integrated Adult Social Care were highly commended for their work supporting stability across more than 300 care homes. Their efforts have helped ensure older residents receive consistent, reliable care, providing reassurance for families and communities across the county.
For the Relationship Builder award, Rebbie May, an HR Adviser, was highly commended for the calm, fair and respectful way she supported staff, managers and trade unions through complex organisational change. Her work helped maintain trust and stability within children’s services, ensuring support for families continued throughout a challenging period.
In the Pillar of Support category, Victoria Walsh, a Principal Engineer, was highly commended for the steady, compassionate leadership she showed during a prolonged period of uncertainty. By holding her team together and maintaining morale, she helped ensure vital work continued for the benefit of Devon’s communities.
For the Inclusivity Advocate award, Donna Comer was highly commended for her outstanding commitment to equality and inclusion within adult social care. Through her leadership and work to create open, supportive spaces for discussion and learning, she has helped build confidence and understanding across teams.
In the Rising Star category, Jack Knox was highly commended for the impressive impact he has made in a short time. His creative work, particularly through film and major events, has helped bring public service stories to life and connect Devon residents with the people behind the services they rely on.
For the Being an Innovator award, Ellen Rodger was highly commended for her work improving the energy efficiency and comfort of homes across Devon. Her efforts are helping residents live more comfortably while supporting a greener, more sustainable future for local communities.