The 2020 Awards Season comes to a close

Earlier this week, I was delighted to mark the end of our 2020 awards season with two more accolades for the team at FSCS. This takes us to a total of 24 shortlist spots, and 13 wins and commendations for the year.

Our last hurrah was the HR Excellence Awards, where we picked up 'Best People Focused Workplace Design' and 'HR Team of the Year' - two titles which I think provide a neat way to frame and reflect on what's been going on behind the (virtual!) glitz and glamour of the trophies and ceremonies.

'HR Team of the Year' we won back in 2016 but feels a little more poignant this time around. My team, like everyone else, have had to adapt and overcome all the challenges that 2020 brought. Working from home, isolation, home-schooling, worrying about their friends and family, but on top of that also making sure that every single one of our employees has been supported too. We're lucky to have some fantastic managers and leaders at FSCS, so we've not done it alone, but we've had to step up like never before - providing all our HR support remotely and designing new approaches and initiatives too.

The irony is not lost on me that 'Best People Focused Workplace Design' has come at a time when most of our employees haven't spent a single day enjoying said workplace since the end of March! The future of the office environment is something that I think most HR leaders have had at the back of their mind for many years now, and I think 'workplace design' will mean something very different by the time the nominations are being made next year. FSCS had started to embrace flexible working before the pandemic, but we've definitely taken a big step forward with how it's perceived by everyone, and the change is here to stay for us.

I'm so proud of my team, my fellow leaders at FSCS, and everyone across the scheme - every single person has contributed to our success this season. We've been recognised extensively for our people experience, but our customer experience too. Not an accident either, it's no secret that looking after your people has a big impact on how your customers will be looked after too.

I'm not shy in saying I'm proud of myself too, it's easy to get distracted by all the things we think we could have handled better this year, and not take the time to recognise that we have done great things and achieved a lot.

Of course, the work never stops. I have no doubt that this time next year I'll be looking back on another successful season, but hopefully, by then, having spent a little more time in our award-winning workplace!