The Yorkshire Productivity Awards 2007, held at the Leeds Met Hotel on 24th April 2007, recognised the significant steps being taken by manufacturing companies and other organisations to improve their efficiency and competitiveness.

For the first time in its four-year history, public sector organisations were invited to enter for the Yorkshire Productivity Awards with the introduction of a Healthcare Lean Performance award category.

Speaking at the Yorkshire Productivity Awards 2007, Mike Lowe, Director of Area, West Yorkshire & Humber Learning and Skills Council, said: "These awards are a good example of how Yorkshire Productivity has managed to achieve the difficult task of balancing the investment in plant and production with investment in an organisation's most valuable assets; its people."

Alistair Gladstone, General Manager at Yorkshire Productivity, commented: "It is encouraging to see the growing number of manufacturing companies embracing training so wholeheartedly. We are also now working closely with health organisations in Yorkshire, using the same efficiency improvement techniques which have been so successful in the manufacturing sector."

Yorkshire Productivity Awards for 2007 were presented to:
Winner
Best Lean Implementation Award (Large Company)
David Brown, Huddersfield
Sponsored by Yorkshire Forward

Winner
Best Lean Implementation Award (SME)
UV Modular, Brighouse
Sponsored by Yorkshire Forward

Highly Commended
Best Lean Implementation Award (Large Company)
Marshalls West Lane, Halifax
Sponsored by Yorkshire Forward

Winner
Best Skills for Life Intervention Award (Large Company)
Marshalls West Lane, Halifax

Winner
Most Successful NVQ Training Award (Large Company)
Ronseal, Sheffield
Sponsored by EMTA Awards Ltd

Highly Commended
Most Successful NVQ Training Award (Large Company)
Bezier, Wakefield
Sponsored by EMTA Awards Ltd

Winner
Individual Award
Tony Alison, David Brown, Huddersfield

Winner
Individual Award
Bob England, Marshalls Brookfoot, Halifax

Winner
Lean Manufacturing Newcomer Award
Hughes Safety Showers, Stockport

Winner
NVQ Candidate of the Year Award
Pat Dawson, Ronseal, Sheffield
Sponsored by learndirect

Winner
Healthcare Lean Performance Award Individual
Sue Speak, Matron for Hospital Midwifery, Airedale General Hospital
Sponsored by Medipex

Winner
Healthcare Lean Performance Award Organisation
Airedale NHS Trust
Sponsored by Medipex


The event was sponsored by the Equal "e-learn2work" project with individual awards sponsored by Yorkshire Forward, learndirect, Medipex and EMTA Awards Ltd.