RHA Heroes 2021 winners announced

RHA Heroes has been another enormous campaign success, engaging with the entire commercial vehicle industry to recognise sector’s incredible work during the past 12 months.

Previously known as HGV Heroes, RHA Heroes reflects the expanded membership of the Association that now includes the operators of vans and coaches.
This year’s campaign has been about more than just trucks and has really hit the mark across the whole industry. The four categories were well received and the standard of nominations extremely high.

The judging panel was carefully selected to represent the industry as widely as possible and the standard of the shortlisted nominees made their final choices across the four categories extremely difficult.

Transport Maintenance Team winners – The Collard Group. Their team of 17 technicians was cut by half because of self-isolation but those remaining really went the extra mile to ensure that the company’s 235-strong fleet stayed on the road while meeting all the regular safety requirements. A massive achievement, especially at such a challenging time.

O’Donovan Waste Disposal won the Management category. The company’s ability to implement its internal well-being strategy, the Dynamo Welfare Project to ensure the health and welfare of its workforce was, the judges agreed, quite inspirational.

Lewis Kidd from Go Services Solutions is the winner of the Driver award. Lewis has a great relationship with his customers so was concerned one of his regulars didn’t answer the door. He looked through the window and saw the gentleman lying on the floor. Lewis called the ambulance and stayed with the man until the ambulance arrived. Putting the health and welfare of one of his customers first was an exemplary act of kindness and one for which he deserves recognition.

The overall winner of the 2021 RHA Heroes Award goes to the driving team at coach operator Dolphin Baker. As a result of Covid, 50 drivers were furloughed. But that didn’t deter the drivers from Bakers Dolphin – they all volunteered to drive ambulances for the Bristol Ambulance Emergency Medical Services After initial training, they were able to undertake routine patient journeys, thereby freeing up regular staff to make emergency journeys.