APSE nomination

Aspire Landscape Management have been named as finalists in the prestigious Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) awards.

Aspire were named in the Best Service Team of the Year: Parks, Grounds and Horticultural Service section.

The nomination for Parks, Grounds and Horticultural Service recognised Aspire’s hard work across the whole borough, developing themselves into a one stop shop for all the council’s landscape management needs. With the team in-house there are significant financial savings for the council, and a more attractive borough for everyone to enjoy.

The team’s continual improvement and learning was also highlighted. Where they didn’t have the skills needed to carry out a job to support colleagues, they took the initiative and underwent the required professional training to widen the range of jobs they can offer, meaning the team can additionally now resurface playparks, line carparks and carry out the full range of arboriculture works and tree surgery.

The award application was submitted early in 2020, before the team were called upon to run the Ashford Response Depot distributing food aid to the most vulnerable at the height of the first COVID wave, a further example of their continual drive and commitment to the Ashford community.

APSE Chief Executive Paul O’Brien said: “These finalists are amongst the best in local government. Showing ingenuity and dedication to local government frontline services they are all deserving of their place. The APSE Service Awards are uniquely placed to recognise the enormous effort and dedication of these vital frontline services and the value of the unsung public sector heroes who deliver these services, day in and day out, to local communities. Congratulations to all the finalists for 2020.”

The winners will be announced at an online award ceremony on Wednesday 16 December.