Issued on: Monday 9 March 2020
Control Rooms Ashleigh Wins Award
A member of staff from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service has been recognised for his extraordinary work in serving and protecting the public.
Ashleigh Spriggs, who works in Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Services’ Control Room based at Leicester’s Southern Fire Station, scooped the award for ‘Control Room Ambassador of the Year’ at an award ceremony last week.
The APD Control Room Awards 2020, run by APD Communications, celebrates and recognises the behind-the-scenes work of control room staff, ‘our unsung heroes’ from across the UK and Ireland.
Some 400 nominations from more than 80 organisations were submitted for a number of different categories ranging from Call Taker of the Year to Young Achiever of the Year. Community Champion and Unsung Hero were also among some of the highly sought-after awards.
Leicestershire’s Ashleigh Spriggs was nominated by Control Room Station Manager, Ann Gale for his commitment to providing the necessary support for his control colleagues wellbeing.
He also played a pivotal part in last year’s International Control Room Week, promoting the work fire control do by putting the spotlight on the department across the Service and in the public domain.
Ann Gale, said: “Hearing that Ashleigh had made it to the final three and getting an invite from him to join him at the awards ceremony was amazing in itself.
“Finding out that APD had received 400 nominees across all of the categories really brought it home just how well Ashleigh had done to make it that far.
“To hear his name called out as the winner was just fantastic. Seeing him go up to receive his award is one of the proudest moments within my working career, and something that will remain with me for a very long time.”
On winning his category, Ashleigh Spriggs, said: “I was completely humbled and overwhelmed to have been nominated for this award, but to be recognised as the 2020 ‘Control Room Ambassador of the Year’ is absolutely mind blowing.
“The fire service is all about team work, and whilst I’m fortunate to receive this award, I am extremely thankful to have the support of a fantastic team behind me. Particularly my colleagues and friends in fire control who I am proud to work alongside each and every day.
“Working in an emergency control room is a massively rewarding career. Each day brings new challenges and no two days are the same. On occasions the work and environment can be distressing and pressured, but knowing you are that person and team the public turn to when then they need help, knowing our response starts with you and knowing you make a difference to so many people in such traumatic circumstances is a fantastic feeling.”
Also joining him at the ceremony was Operational Response, Area Manager Paul Weston. He said: “We are extremely proud of Ashleigh for his continued hard work and professionalism. He has shown great commitment to his fire control colleagues and to the Service as a whole.
“This award was thoroughly deserved. Well done.”
The award ceremony was held at Jury’s Inn, Hinckley Island, Leicestershire on Thursday 5 March 2020.
To find out more about the 2020 APD Control Room Awards, see www.controlroomawards.com/.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Photograph APD Communications:
Control Room Ambassador of the Year Ashleigh Spriggs, of Leicestershire Fire and Rescue, is presented with his award by Jo Ward of event organiser APD Communications, left, and awards host Helen Fospero.
Interviews can be arranged through prior arrangement with Corporate Communications on the details below.
About the Service
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service provides emergency response, prevention and protection services from 20 stations across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Its headquarters is based in Birstall, Leicester.
During 2018/19, the Service attended 762 road traffic collisions, of which 125 were extrications from vehicles, in addition to 2,569 fires. We carried out 6,746 home safety checks and fitted 4,790 smoke alarms. 279 schools were visited as part of the Service’s schools programme, delivering fire and road safety education to pupils. Staff organised or took part in 1,068 community safety events, promoting fire and road safety and arson prevention, and 134 Virtual Fatal Four (VF4) events as part of the Service’s young drivers’ road safety project.
The Service’s prevention, education, enforcement and inspection programmes have resulted in significant reductions in the number of incidents. In the last ten years, fire-related incidents have reduced by over 30 percent.
Contact:
Corporate Communications
Direct: 0116 210 5592
Corporate.communications@leics-fire.gov.uk
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