The MJ Awards, celebrating great work in the public sector

They bring together forward-thinking councils, leading the way in the field, and are held to reward great work, brilliant people and innovative concepts which positively impact their communities. We’re proud to share that Stevenage was among those celebrating this year.

There was a real mix of organisations, from large unitary councils through to smaller district authorities on the shortlists. It’s great to see Stevenage being put on the map with lots of other councils throughout the UK.

Out of hundreds of entries, Stevenage Borough Council reached the shortlist for the Oaks Cross development and received Highly Commended for the Best Social Housing category at these impressive local government awards.

Oaks Cross are modern one-bedroom homes which provide vulnerable residents with a vital lifeline, complete with a comprehensive wrap-around support package to assist residents in becoming self-sufficient while avoiding homelessness.

The quick installation, low construction, and maintenance costs, coinciding with high levels of sustainability mean that these homes can be delivered efficiently and effectively, with reduced build costs when compared to that of an ordinary brick-built property.

Councillor Richard Henry, Leader of the Council said: “It was a real privilege to be shortlisted and great to see the fantastic work that is going on in all councils, especially given the tough financial challenges public sector organisations are facing.

“The competition was tough, but awards such as these celebrate the fantastic work and the brilliant people we have in the public sector. It was a great feeling to know that, as a team, Stevenage is up there with the best councils, and we do have lots of projects to shout about, as well as a team of people that really do go the extra mile.”