Interview with the Sunbelt Rentals 2023 Hall of Fame value winners

Every year, we host the Hall of Fame Values Awards to recognise teammates from across the business who live our values. These individuals go above and beyond to support our customers, communities, and each other throughout the year.

With these awards, we aim to transform the lives of our teammates by recognising their outstanding contributions to our business and celebrate their achievements with a fantastic journey to America.

Our 2023 Hall of Fame Winners were:

• Safe: Sophie Bryan, Engineering Compliance Manager
• Responsible: Mark Cruddas, Service Centre Manager
• Innovative: Connor McLeod, National Business Development Manager
• Action: Charlotte Foulkes, Hire Controller
• Expert: Aaron Minogue, Logistics Manager
• Teamwork: Belinda Swana, Head of Marketing

Ahead of their well-deserved trip, we caught up with our 2023 Hall of Fame value winners…??

What did you think of the 2023 Hall of Fame Awards evening?

Connor said: “It was amazing, a great night to come together and celebrate teammates across the business.”

Sophie had a fantastic time, saying: “The evening truly focused on recognising and rewarding colleagues within the business and that was felt by all. It was also a great networking opportunity to meet colleagues who I work closely with on a day-to-day basis but hadn’t met in person yet, along with meeting some new names and faces.”

Charlotte added: “I was EXTREMELY nervous and felt super out of my depth to begin with, being a small fish in a big pond. But it was a fantastic evening and a wonderful experience though!

Which award did you win and how important do you think this value is to Sunbelt Rentals?

Aaron who won the Expert award said: “It’s extremely important, we should all pride ourselves on being the industry leaders and ensure that we have the best people in every field with the most knowledge and the work ethic to go alongside it.”

Mark added: “I won the Responsible award; the core Sunbelt Rentals values are extremely important as they form part of what we are as a company.”

Charlotte said: “My action award had me challenge a depot and overturn a stop in works. The consequences of “taking the easy option” could be devastating for some and we should always have the client’s interest at the forefront of importance. Sometimes you’ve just got to look at the bigger picture!”

Connor won the innovation award and said: “It felt unbelievable to win this award. Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower. I think it is extremely important to have this core value within Sunbelt Rentals to ensure its edge against competition within the market.”?

Belinda who won the Teamwork award continued: “I have so many sayings which I use a lot in my team meetings about teamwork and one in particular is an African proverb "Teamwork without coordination leads to confusion" resonates with me as it highlights the importance of working together and collaborating effectively to achieve shared goals. This value award is so important to our business as collaborating is crucial, it leads to innovative ideas and strong performance within a business. I'm part of an incredible marketing team and an even stronger Sunbelt Rentals team.”

Sophie added: “I felt honoured to win the Safe award, especially as I know how important this value award is to the business. Safe, is the first core value of the business and is a number one priority to both the business and myself. It is something I feel extremely passionate about and always incorporate into my day-to-day actions and decisions, so I was very proud to have won the Safe award.”

As a Hall of Famer, what advice would you give to colleagues aspiring to win such an award?

Charlotte said: “Just always treat people how you would expect to be treated. Being truthful, polite and the most helpful you can be goes a long way and uses such minimal effort, there is no excuse to not do it!”

Connor continued with: “Surround yourself with a great team and they will get you there, together.”

With Aaron adding: “Work ethic and going above and beyond will get you noticed.” and Mark continued: “Keep doing your best to live by the Sunbelt Rentals values and you will get recognised. I actually joked with my line manager that I would never win!”

Some great advice from Belinda: “Keep giving your best, keep getting better at what you do, be mindful of your impact on others and truly live our Sunbelt Rentals values.”

Sophie finishes it perfectly with: “The Hall of Fame Awards is a fantastic opportunity for all our colleagues in Sunbelt Rentals. It only takes one nomination, so continue putting safety at the front and centre of everything you do, and it could be you going to the Hall of Fame Awards this year!”