List of 2005 winning employers and service providers

List of 2005 winning employers and service providers.

Translink scoops top award at 2005 Disability Awards

Translink is celebrating after scooping the top award Employer of the Year at the 2005 Employer Recognition Awards.

This prestigious award celebrates excellence in the field of disability and was presented to Translink by Nuala McKeever, Patron, Employers' Forum on Disability (NI), at a special Gala event in the City Hall on Thursday 2 June 2005.

On receiving the award there were cheers from the Translink table. Alan Mercer, Director of Human Resources, from the organisation said "We are absolutely thrilled to win this award. It recognises Tranlink's commitment to our employees and customers with disabilities and is an accolade to all our staff."

Translink was also winner of the large organisation Best Recruitment Practice Award so they had cause for a double celebration.

Martin Howell, Chair of the Employers' Forum on Disability (NI) and Director of Business in the Community, congratulated Translink, and indeed all of the other winners, on their achievements. He said "These awards are about celebrating organisations making genuine efforts to improve their practices. We now intend to share the experiences of the winners with other employers and service providers. We will show that good practice makes good business sense, by enhancing and supporting the workforce, attracting more job applicants with disabilities and meeting the requirements of disabled customers."

Other organisations shortlisted for each award category and winners on the night were:

Best Recruitment Practice Award

Winners:

• Small:     Strabane Garden Centre
• Medium: McErlean's Bakery, Magherafelt
• Large: Translink

Other shortlisted organisations:

Small:

• Share Holiday Village
• Staff Commission for Education & Library Boards

Medium:

• Mencap N.I.       

Large:

• Ballymena Borough Council
• H M Customs & Excise
• Northern Ireland Housing Executive
• North & West Belfast H&SS Trust
• Ulster Bank Ltd                          

Best Participation Award

Winners:

• Employee nominated: The Staff Commission for ELB and Strabane Garden Centre
• Self nominated: Toners Supermarket

Other shortlisted organisations::

Small:

• Amh Accept Lisburn
• Armoy Community Association
• Loughgiel Community Association
• Oakwood Integrated Primary School
• Share Holiday Village

Large:

• Exel
• Northern Ireland Courts Service
• Ulster Bank Ltd          

Promoting Disability Awareness Award

Winners:

• Large: Belfast City Council

Other shortlisted organisations:

Small:

• Share Holiday Village

Large:

• Greenpark Healthcare Trust
• Ulster Bank Ltd

Best Customer Service Award - sponsored by First Trust Bank

Winners:

• Small: Knock Travel
• Medium: Belfast Waterfront Hall
• Large: Greenpark Health Care Trust

Other shortlisted organisations:

Small:     

• Share Holiday Village
• Voluntary Service Bureau

Medium: 

• Belfast City Airport
• Canal Court Hotel
• Positive Futures
• W5 at Odyssey

Large:

• Armagh & Dungannon H&SS Trust
• Henderson Group Property
• R.N.I.D.
• Ulster Bank Ltd
• Upper Bann Institute of Further & Higher Education     

Sincere thanks go to those organisations that supported the awards, the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, the Department for Employment and Learning and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment. We also thank First Trust Bank, Northbrook Technology and Dillon Bass for their support on the Gala night.