Published on: Wednesday, 17 October 2018
Last updated: Wednesday, 17 October 2018
A video is available here: https://youtu.be/Mp4Qzln3hlY
She raises thousands for charity, genuinely cares for her customers and colleagues and is always putting on events that brighten Norwich rail station.
Now Nicola Garwood, the station’s Welcome Host has been named Greater Anglia’s ‘Employee of the Year’ at the company’s ‘Everyday Legends Awards’ for her unfailing enthusiasm and dedication to her role.
Greater Anglia’s Area Customer Service Manager, James Reeve, commented, “Nicola and her team work tirelessly throughout the year raising awareness and donations for so many charities, while at the same time ensuring that all our customers are well looked after too. She’s one in a million!”
Another colleague commented: “Nicola is a ray of sunshine at Norwich. She's always coming up with new ideas to please passengers and support the business.
“She generates these ideas proactively without being asked and works a lot in her own time to make station events a success."
Since the beginning of the year, Nicola has led the team at Norwich in raising over £10,000 for charities such as Macmillan, Cancer Research UK, Samaritans, British Heart Foundation and Sarcoma UK.
Her events have also supported Dementia Friends, Mental Health Awareness Week, the National Autistic Society, the Norwich Guide Dog Association, school carol singing concerts, and the station became a Christmas present drop-off point for a local hospital.
Customers regularly comment on Nicola’s positive creative work to decorate the welcome desk, customer services office and station whiteboard.
Nicola commented, “I’m so happy. I really didn’t think I’d win and couldn’t have done it without all the support I’ve received from my team, managers and the customers at Norwich station.
“I really love my job and the fact that Greater Anglia supports us in doing so much for our communities and the charities that are close to the hearts of staff and customers is a big part of that.
“I feel it’s so important to be able to give something back and it adds an extra dimension of satisfaction to working at the station.”
Other winners include Great Yarmouth station’s ticket office clerk, Ann Kirkham who won ‘Inclusive Individual’ for her work to support the charity ‘Help An East Coast Child’, Driver Scott Ward for his excellent announcements that bring a smile to passengers’ faces, Cambridge platform staff who won ‘Frontline Team of the Year’ and the Lee Valley area team for their performance initiative which is helping to reduce delays during peak times at Brimsdown and Ponders End stations.