#thisisfocus Awards

2025 finalists revealed!

This year’s shortlist represents the very best in our business, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate these remarkable people and teams. From complex projects to inspirational newcomers, each finalist embodies the excellence that the #thisisfocus Awards stand for.

The #thisisfocus Awards are all about recognising and celebrating the incredible people who make Focus Group what it is. Every year we take a moment to shine a spotlight on the teamwork, ambition and drive that has delivered amazing results. This is our chance to celebrate you – because every person, in every department, plays a part in our success.

And this isn’t just any awards ceremony… this is #thisisfocus!

2025 Award Finalists

Customer Champion Award

Harry Thorne, Mike Irving-Jones and Millie Ramsey

Innovation & Impact Award

Calum Turner, Sarah Carpenter and Sam Diamond

Operational Excellence Award

Paul Lowe, Joe Dowling and Paul Perkins

Emerging Talent Award

Theo Winter, Markell Foulds and Dean Little

Sales Superstar Award

Andrew Rumsey, Ben Pinder and Ed Batchelor

Engineering Excellence

Daniel Page, Daniel Heard and Darren Gibson

Team Power Award

Venterra Service Desk, Customer Engagement and Customer Loyalty

The Ashley Glen Award

Kate Andrews, Tom Howell
and Chris Quinn

The Focus Foundation Award

Katrina Macleod, Amber Callun and Pete Jeffs

The Founders Award

Yousra Zguirir, John Shelford and Kim Walker

Meet your host...
Troy Hawke!

Troy Hawke, the award-winning creation of comedian Milo McCabe, is a 1930s-inspired, moustachioed gent whose razor-sharp wit and eccentric insights into modern life have made him one of the UK’s most distinctive comedy acts. With sell-out tours, TV appearances on This Morning and The Russell Howard Hour, and multiple award wins, including Best Show at the Leicester Comedy Festival, Troy continues to captivate audiences worldwide with his unique brand of character-driven comedy.

This year’s award categories

As always the #thisisfocus Awards celebrate the people and teams who make Focus Group so special. From customer heroes and rising stars to behind-the-scenes legends and trailblazing teams, these categories shine a light on the talent, dedication and energy across our business. Take a look at the awards below and get ready to nominate the colleagues who’ve inspired you this year!

Customer Champion Award

For the colleague who goes above and beyond to deliver outstanding customer experiences. They’re trusted, reliable and always put the customer first – solving problems with skill, building loyalty, and making every customer feel valued.

This is an All Group category.

Innovation & Impact Award

This award goes to the big thinkers and problem-solvers, the ones who spot a challenge and find a smarter way through it. Their ideas don’t just work on paper, they make a real difference to how we do business.

This is an All Group category.

Operational Excellence Award

Not everyone’s in the spotlight, but this award makes sure our behind-the-scenes heroes get their moment to shine. They’re the ones keeping everything moving, making success possible for the whole team.

This is a Regional category.

Emerging Talent Award

Our rising stars may be new to Focus Group, but they’re already making waves. Full of energy, talent and potential, they’re the ones to watch as they build their future here.

This is a Regional category.

Sales Superstar Award

This one’s for the deal-makers, target-beaters and new-business winners. They’re the ones who push boundaries, inspire their peers, and set the pace in sales across their region.

Sales Leader nominations only.

Engineering Excellence

For the legends of engineering and service desks. They’re patient, knowledgeable and never flustered, even when the pressure’s on. Colleagues and customers can count on them every single time.

This is an All Group category.

Team Power Award

Some things can only be achieved together and this award celebrates the teams who prove it. Whether it’s smashing a project or supporting one another, this is the dream team.

This is an All Group category.

The Ashley Glen Award

Ready to go above and beyond, they inspire us all to raise our game. Positive, professional, and proud of our brand, they represent Focus Group brilliantly wherever they go- making us stand out for all the right reasons.

This is an All Group category.

The Founders’ Award

Chosen from manager nominations, this award celebrates someone who has lived and breathed the spirit of Focus this year. They’re the role model who’s had a lasting impact, presented by Chris & Ralph.

Manager nominations only.

The Focus Foundation Award

This award shines a light on those making a difference beyond our business. From charity fundraising to volunteering, these are the people helping us give back to the communities we operate in.

This is an All Group category.

2024 Award Winners

Anna Strevens

HQ Outstanding Contribution

A stand-out employee as chosen by you, for outstanding contribution- the HQ leadership team will select their winner based on nominations. There are both HQ and Regional sections to this category.

Wayne Coles

Regional Outstanding Contribution

A stand-out employee as chosen by you, for outstanding contribution- the HQ leadership team will select their winner based on nominations. There are both HQ and Regional sections to this category.

Adam Hamilton

HQ Outstanding Customer Experience

Our customers love this person, they are cool, calm and collected. They resolve issues quickly and hold a 5* CSAT record. There are both HQ and Regional sections to this category.

Kathleen Doherty

Regional Outstanding Customer Experience

Our customers love this person, they are cool, calm and collected. They resolve issues quickly and hold a 5* CSAT record. There are both HQ and Regional sections to this category.

Patrick Mahon

HQ Sales Superstar

They get the deal done! This award will be judged on all-round performance, development, % above target, up and coming talent and high potential. There are both HQ and Regional sections to this category and the shortlist will be selected by our Sales leaders.

Oliver Oswin

Regional Sales Superstar

They get the deal done! This award will be judged on all-round performance, development, % above target, up and coming talent and high potential. There are both HQ and Regional sections to this category and the shortlist will be selected by our Sales leaders.

Darren Gibson

Technical Excellence

Nominate the engineer who has delivered technically but also represented the business professionally and received excellent customer feedback. This is a Group-wide award, the category is open to all.

Daniel Rowe

Service Desk Superstar

Do you know a service desk individual who consistently delivers an outstanding experience? This one's for them! This is a whole Group-wide award, the category is open to all.

Mobile Provisioning

Group Team Impact

Otherwise known as the DREAM TEAM- these people have demonstrated a notable impact on the business over the past year. This is a Group-wide award, the category is open to all.

Dan Ellis

The Ashley Glen Award

Formerly ‘Group Business Ambassador’, this award has been renamed in dedication to our friend and colleague Ashley, who we lost to cancer earlier this year. The winner of this award fully reflects the culture of Focus Group and lives our values every day. This is a Group-wide award, the category is open to all.

Wesley McGovern

Founders Award

To be won by the individual who has made the most exceptional all-round contribution to Focus Group during 2023, this is the highest accolade of the evening. Chris & Ralph will select the overall winner based on nominations received.
#thisisfocus
Awards

Paul Perkins

HQ Outstanding Contribution

A stand-out employee as chosen by you, for outstanding contribution- the HQ leadership team will select their winner based on nominations. There are both HQ and Regional sections to this category.

Stephen Burns

Regional Outstanding Contribution

A stand-out employee as chosen by you, for outstanding contribution- the HQ leadership team will select their winner based on nominations. There are both HQ and Regional sections to this category.

Jordan Walker

HQ Outstanding Customer Experience

Our customers love this person, they are cool, calm and collected. They resolve issues quickly and hold a 5* CSAT record. There are both HQ and Regional sections to this category.

Stacey Smith

Regional Outstanding Customer Experience

Our customers love this person, they are cool, calm and collected. They resolve issues quickly and hold a 5* CSAT record. There are both HQ and Regional sections to this category.

Ross Sinclair

HQ Sales Superstar

They get the deal done! This award will be judged on all-round performance, development, % above target, up and coming talent and high potential. There are both HQ and Regional sections to this category and the shortlist will be selected by our Sales leaders.

Simon Dunstan

Regional Sales Superstar

They get the deal done! This award will be judged on all-round performance, development, % above target, up and coming talent and high potential. There are both HQ and Regional sections to this category and the shortlist will be selected by our Sales leaders.

Jonny Winter

Technical Excellence

Nominate the engineer who has delivered technically but also represented the business professionally and received excellent customer feedback. This is a Group-wide award, the category is open to all.

Arran Beaney

Group Service Desk Superstar

Do you know a service desk individual who consistently delivers an outstanding experience? This one's for them! This is a whole Group-wide award, the category is open to all.

Desk Engineering

Group Team Impact

Otherwise known as the DREAM TEAM- these people have demonstrated a notable impact on the business over the past year. This is a Group-wide award, the category is open to all.

Tom Wyatt

The Ashley Glen Award

Formerly ‘Group Business Ambassador’, this award has been renamed in dedication to our friend and colleague Ashley, who we lost to cancer earlier this year. The winner of this award fully reflects the culture of Focus Group and lives our values every day. This is a Group-wide award, the category is open to all.

Alex Beaudet

Founders Award

To be won by the individual who has made the most exceptional all-round contribution to Focus Group during 2023, this is the highest accolade of the evening. Chris & Ralph will select the overall winner based on nominations received.
#thisisfocus
Awards