April 2021

WARWICKSHIRE MEANS BUSINESS

High Sheriff's Award for Fay

The excellent work of Fay Winterburn, Warwickshire County Council's Lead Commissioner, Employability and Skills, has been recognised by a High Sheriff's Award.

The annual High Sheriff Awards recognise and celebrate individuals and voluntary organisations who help to make the county of Warwickshire a better place.

Joe Greenwell CBE DL, High Sheriff of Warwickshire in 2020/21, selected as his theme for the year ‘employability’ with a particular emphasis on apprenticeships and traineeships for those with special needs.

It is an area to which Fay and her Skills Team attach the highest priority.

"The challenges facing the 16-24 age group in terms of education, training and employment have been made much more acute by COVID19 and even more so for those with special needs," said Mr Greenwell.

"I was very pleased during my year to work with Fay to try to increase training and job opportunities for this vulnerable group. The award is due recognition of her fantastic efforts and commitment in this area."

During the year the county council's skills team, under Fay's jurisdiction, did much to support jobseekers with special needs through a range of projects. These including Supportive Employers Inc and Inclusive Apprenticeships, where Fay and the team called upon employers to drive forward their inclusivity pledges and shape their future job opportunities to include young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND).

Fay was pleased to receive the award for its recognition of the work done by her team and the council's partner organisations.

"This is an area which myself and my team at WCC are very passionate about," she said. "I would like to thank Joe for all his interest and support during his year as High Sheriff and also for the award, but the award is very much for all the people at WCC both in the Skills Hub and Education, who have done so much work to support young people with special needs.

"At Warwickshire County Council I work for an organisation who have led on some pretty amazing support during this pandemic. Behind the many campaigns and projects are hundreds of officers working above and beyond to ensure our economy and communities emerge from the pandemic as strong as possible. To receive such an award amongst some really great colleagues means so much."

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