On the 9th of September, colleagues, customers and partners came together at Millennium Point in Birmingham to celebrate our Amulets Awards. It was an evening dedicated to celebrating the people who make Amulet what it is and recognising the incredible contributions made by our colleagues.
The Amulets are about more than awards and trophies. They’re an opportunity to pause and celebrate the stories behind the achievements. Stories of supporting those in need, leading by example, improving standards, strengthening communities and making a difference for our customers.
A night to celebrate our people
This year’s event was made even more special by the presence of the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, alongside PJ Ellis, who represented The Lord Mayor of Birmingham’s Charity. Throughout the evening, attendees generously supported our prize draw, helping to raise money for a charity that does fantastic work supporting local charities, community projects and not-for-profit organisations across Birmingham.
The atmosphere was fantastic, with everyone coming together to celebrate the achievements of our people and hear the inspiring stories behind this year’s nominations.
Recognising exceptional achievements
While every finalist had a remarkable story to tell, our winners represented some of the very best examples of the passion and commitment that can be found across Amulet.
The Outstanding Act award went to Josh Chegwin and Neil Lewis, whose quick thinking and courage helped save the life of a member of the public who had fallen between a train and the platform. Their calm response under pressure and willingness to put themselves at risk to help another person demonstrated the very highest standards of professionalism. They were shortlisted alongside fellow finalists David Walker and Charlie Wilkinson, Ibrahim Rahman, Joe Marsh and Nikki Mold, whose nominations also showcased exceptional courage and dedication in challenging circumstances.
In the Always Seek Better category, David Scotton was recognised for driving significant improvements to site safety, implementing measures that helped reduce speeding incidents and create a safer environment for colleagues, visitors and contractors. Joining him as finalists were David Walker, Charlie Wilkinson and Kaylem Amies, as well as Stoyan Stoyanov, who were recognised for their commitment to continuous improvement and raising standards within their workplaces.
The Everyday Excellence award was presented to James Allison, whose 21 years of dedicated service, professionalism and consistency have earned the respect of colleagues and customers alike. Fellow finalists Alex Braid, Albert Ejimofor and Bladen Rowbottom were also recognised for the positive difference they make every day through their professionalism and commitment to excellence.
Innovation, teamwork and leadership
The Led by Intelligence award was awarded to the Northern Trains TSOs, whose work on a groundbreaking initiative helped contribute to a significant reduction in workplace violence through targeted, data-led security deployments. Lamin Jawara, Shahroz Malik and Arran Straugheir, each recognised for using intelligence, innovation and initiative to deliver positive outcomes.
One of the evening’s biggest celebrations came as GTR Project Olaf was named Team of the Year. The project brought together colleagues from across the business to successfully deploy more than 140 officers across 27 locations during the Christmas period, showcasing outstanding teamwork, planning and collaboration. Joining GTR Project Olaf on the shortlist were the c2c team, the Greater London Authority Heritage Wardens and the Transport for Greater Manchester team, each recognised for outstanding teamwork and collaboration in supporting their customers and communities.
The Frontline Leadership Award went to David Afidemenyo in recognition of his calm leadership and decisive actions during several significant incidents, demonstrating the impact effective leadership can have in challenging situations. He was shortlisted alongside Abolade Fagbohun, Isaac Greenwell and Daniel Lumu, all of whom demonstrate leadership through their support, guidance and commitment to their teams.
Putting people first
In the Putting People First category, Humaas Shakeel was recognised for safeguarding three vulnerable young people found alone at Manchester Victoria station during the early hours of the morning. His compassion, professionalism and instinct to protect those most in need perfectly embodied the values of the award. Fellow finalists Sidiya Fofana, Graham Jones and Samuel Freeman were also recognised for going above and beyond to support vulnerable people in their moments of need.
The Heart of Amulet award was presented to Bienvenue (Billy) Kitu for his dedication to supporting young people through the charity he founded, the Billy Youth Project. His work within the community continues to make a lasting difference to the lives of young people and their families. Joining him as finalists were Isaac Greenwell and Tracey Cheung, both recognised for their outstanding commitment to charitable and community initiatives.
Championing inclusion and supporting others
Our EDI Champion award went to Mick Jones and Dan Smith, whose commitment to creating inclusive recruitment opportunities and building partnerships within local communities has helped create genuine opportunities for people returning to work. Fellow finalists, the Amulet Bid Team comprising Sarah Ludlam, Kirsty Dixon and Emma Kilkenny, alongside Emily Morley and Hannah McMahon, were recognised for making diversity, inclusion and social value an integral part of their work.
Special recognition
Alongside the category awards, two of the evening’s most anticipated moments were the presentation of the Managing Director’s Award and the Managers’ Choice Award.
The Managing Director’s Award is a personal recognition from Amulet’s Managing Director and celebrates an individual who has made an exceptional contribution to the business while embodying the values that make Amulet such a special place to work.
This year’s award was presented to Dan Reed, whose dedication, positivity and leadership have had a transformational impact on his contract and team. Working in a fast-paced and constantly evolving environment, Dan has built a reputation for embracing challenges, finding solutions and supporting those around him. His can-do attitude, professionalism and commitment have earned enormous respect from colleagues and customers alike, making him a thoroughly deserving recipient of this year’s MD Award.
The evening also saw Ioana Mehedintu recognised with the Managers’ Choice Award. Unlike any other award on the night, this recognition comes from colleagues and peers across the business, making it especially meaningful.
Ioana was recognised for her incredible commitment, enthusiasm and willingness to help wherever needed. Whether supporting colleagues, stepping in to assist with projects or going the extra mile to create memorable moments for others, she consistently brings positive energy to everything she does. Her thoughtful support, infectious enthusiasm and dedication to making a difference have made her a valued member of the Amulet team and a very worthy winner.
Also shortlisted in the Managers’ Choice category were Emily Morley, Courtney Richards and Dan Smith, all recognised by the management team for their exceptional contributions throughout the year.
Congratulations to all our finalists and winners
As inspiring as the winners’ stories were, the evening was also a celebration of every finalist. Behind every nomination was a story of dedication, teamwork, courage or kindness. Being recognised by colleagues and managers is an achievement, and everyone shortlisted should be incredibly proud.
A huge thank you to everyone who attended, supported the event, donated to our charity raffle and helped make the evening such a success. Congratulations once again to all our finalists and winners. Your stories are a powerful reminder of the difference our people make every day, and we couldn’t be prouder to celebrate your achievements.
