Latest VIPs bringing smiles and colleagues and the community

Third round of Council VIP Awards finalists announced

Smiles for everyone and support for Council teams serving our communities are the stellar standouts in the third and final round of OIC’s 2025 VIP Awards.

Standing for Values In Practice, Orkney Islands Council’s VIP Awards are aimed at celebrating work which reflects the Council’s values – People, Unity, Trust, Ownership and Creativity.

Nominees are shortlisted against three categories – and this round’s finalists are:

For the Customer Focus Category

• Robert Rendall, Driver/Roadworker: Robert has been the stalwart of all things municipal in Westray for decades. From roads, bins, ditches, snow clearing, dyke building and flood response, these are just a few of the challenges he faces. No matter what he’s asked to do, he does it with a smile and a polite “aye aye”. He’s a true local hero!
• Rosie Stewart, School Crossing Patrol Officer: Rosie has turned a very simple gesture into something that has spiralled and, at absolutely no cost, she makes others smile - kickstarting their day in the right way. Rosie’s clever use of a wave to everyone has actually had the knock-on effect of slowing folk down and keeping children safe.

For the Working Together Category

• Lynne Nicolson, Team Manager in Adult Social Work: Lynne puts her heart into her role as Team Manager, always putting the needs of her colleagues and clients before her own and making them feel supported. Her knowledge of the community and her care package creativity is leading the way. The Adult Social Work team would be lost without her. 
• Julie Hopkins, Senior Family Support Worker:  Julie is a fantastic team player and has a kind, thoughtful and non-confrontational approach to engaging with children and families, which often makes Julie the ‘go to’ worker when families are in crisis. She’s an integral part of the Children and Families service and we feel very lucky to have her!  

For the Creativity Category

• Kirstin Harvey, Senior Social Care Worker – Kristin has recently become a Senior at Smiddybrae and is doing a brilliant job, always offering help when the floor is short. She is also taking the time to organise staff get-togethers and she really gets our staff team together which makes a brilliant staff family.   

These finalists now go forward to the VIP Awards annual event in June, where overall category winners will be announced. 

Speaking ahead of the finals, Corporate Director of Infrastructure and Organisational Development, Hayley Green, said: “Nominations are now closed for this year’s VIP Awards, but I’d take this opportunity to thank people who have taken the time over the past 12 months to share with us a team or individual at the Council who has made them smile, or made a difficult time just that little bit easier.”

Find out more about the VIP Awards and our Values, at orkney.gov.uk/VIPAwards