2016 Award Winners

Winners of Wales Quality Award Journey to Excellence announced.

A Llantristant storage tank designer and manufacturer and a North Wales High School take top prizes for their Journey to Excellence at the Wales Quality Awards.

AWARD CEREMONY PICTURES
FULL PICTURE GALLERY HERE

The Wales Quality Awards are sponsored by Lloyds Bank and Sony Technologies of Pencoed and supported by Welsh Government’s Department for Education and Skills (DfES).

Balmoral Tanks of Llantrisant, who design and manufacture storage tanks for the European market and Elfed High School in Buckley, Flintshire beat off competition from across Wales to be named joint recipients of this year’s Wales Quality Award.

Other winners in this year’s Wales Quality Awards were:
Amcanu Ltd,
Calsonic Kansei,
Hi-Mark Automotive Ltd,
Continental Teves UK,
NHS Wales Shared Services (both the Procurement and Primary Care divisions)
Denis Ferranti Group.

David Phillips, Chief Executive of Wales Quality Centre, said of the 20th Awards event: “Winning a Wales Quality Award is a real seal of approval for any business that’s serious about sustainable improvement and skills development. This year’s winners are evidence that organisations in a range of sectors and industries are seeing this successful model as a way, to not only grow their business but strengthen it from within.”

Balmoral Tanks Joint Winners – Wales Quality Award

Producing one of the most comprehensive range of tank products in Europe, Balmoral Tanks works across a diverse client base, supplying sectors ranging from civil engineering to fire-fighting. The firm undertook the ‘Journey to Excellence’ with Wales Quality Centre to gain expert independent insight on its business. An investment by the tank design and manufacturing company into skills and leadership training, has resulted in a positive working environment and high levels of productivity, leading assessors to give them the top accolade.

Ceri Herbert, Quality Manager at Balmoral Tanks Ltd said: “The revised single-day format of the ‘Journey to Excellence’ made the opportunity for assessment by the Wales Quality Centre possible. Undergoing the process has been hugely beneficial in helping us identify the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities within our business. We’re confident the experience will stand us in good stead for sustainable growth.”
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Elfed High School Joint Winners – Wales Quality Award

Assessors also found Elfed High School to be an exemplary model of a supportive environment, encouraging a progressive culture of learning for its students and staff. Home to 600 students from the Buckley area, Elfed High School aims to support and challenge every student to succeed by instilling the values of respect, honesty, integrity, high aspirations and self-belief. Last year, Estyn inspectors judged the school to be ‘excellent’, and assessors discovered a progressive, encouraging and transparent atmosphere.

Ray Wells, School Governor at Elfed High School said: “The journey towards excellence, in whatever sector an organisation operates, challenges every aspect of performance as well as the resilience of the leadership team and staff to persevere and meet those challenges with vigour and enthusiasm. In a school environment, the focus is on excellent teaching and learning and providing the conditions where every student can succeed. The Excellence Model provides the perfect quality improvement tool in which to frame the strategic plan and map the journey. Wales Quality Centre advice and support is, and will continue to be, a vital ingredient to our success on that journey.”
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Wales Quality Award Category Prize Winners

Also recognized this year were the following organisations for excellence in the following prize categories:

BEST NEWCOMER: Winner: Amcanu Ltd
Awarded to organisations that have the highest score for their first time of entry into the AWARD

Amcanu is a growing business based in Bury Port West Wales. They specialise in building world-class attenuation enclosures, designed to maintain optimum performance of pumps, compressors and generators. Offering a tailored solution for added value, enclosures are customised to help clients overcome operational challenges and comply with regulation. With plans for growth Amcanu is using their journey to excellence to underpin their growth strategy.
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THE LEADERSHIP PRIZE: Winner: Calsonic Kansei Llanelli
This prize is for organisations that demonstrate how their leadership approach “shapes the future” of their organisation, harnessing creativity and innovation in the pursuit of excellence.

Calsonic Kansei is a supplier of heat exchange, air conditioning, exhaust, interior, and electronic automotive components. Based in Llanelli, West Wales, their Technology Centre validates design, and provides a flexible and responsive service to customers. Since the appointment of their current Operations Director they have embarked on a successful change management programme, which has enthused the whole workforce.
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THE PEOPLE PRIZE: Winner: Hi-Mark Automotive Ltd
Awarded to organisations that demonstrate how they succeed through the talent of their people for the benefit of both the individual and the organisation.

Wrexham based Hi-Mark specialise in engineering products, where mechanical performance is a key criterion. They provide a comprehensive service in the design, development and manufacture of custom designed injection moulded products, as well as comprehensive technical support from concept inception, through to volume production. With a diverse workforce, Hi-Mark actively encourages personal growth and provides employees with a flexible environment to promote a work life balance, all the more impressive when applied to workforce shift patterns.
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THE STRATEGY PRIZE: Winner: Continental Teves UK Ltd
For organisations that have demonstrated effective deployment of strategy resulting in improved growth and sustained outstanding results.

Ebbw Vale based Continental Teves ranks among the top 5 automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for powertrains and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires and technical elastomers, Continental contributes to enhanced driving safety and global climate protection.
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PARTNERSHIPS AND RESOURCES PRIZE: Winner: NWSSP – Procurement Services
For organisations that demonstrate how efficiently resources are utilised and how effectively they work with partners and stake holders in their pursuit for excellence.

NWSSP Procurement services is a division of NHS WALES Shared Services Partnership which hosts a number of divisions who work on behalf of NHS WALES This organisation negotiates contracts for a wide range of goods and services required by NHS in Wales.
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THE MOST IMPROVED ORGANISATION PRIZE: Winner: NWSSP Primary Care
Awarded to organisations that have entered the award during the previous 2 years and have achieved the greatest increase in their overall score

Primary Care Services is part of the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership and provides contract management, reimbursement, post payment verification and information services for GPs, and other health care providers.
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THE INNOVATION PRIZE: Winner: Denis Ferranti Group
The Innovation prize recognises innovation within entrant organisations. This may be innovation of product, service or process, and in the case of this year’s winner, represents recognition of excellence in all 3 areas.

The Denis Ferranti Group is a family owned, multi capability, engineering business based in Bangor, North Wales. Specialising in the design and manufacture of Aerospace and Defence Systems Products and Components, innovation is a key element of their success and future growth strategy.
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The Journey to Excellence & Award Process – Details here