Managing Director shortlisted for Lockdown Leader business award

Aptus Utilities Managing Director Lisa Kerford has reached the finals of the National Business Women’s Awards in the Lockdown Leader category.

The Lockdown Leader Award recognises business leaders who have demonstrated clear and decisive leadership in steering their organisation through the Coronavirus crisis.

The newly launched award will honour an exemplary individual for keeping their team informed and motivated while continuing to inspire and show passion and optimism.

Lockdown leadership

Since the start of the pandemic, Managing Director Lisa Kerford has overseen the strategic management of operations and kept a 300-strong workforce motivated and buoyant.

In March and April, she led the team to safely execute the full shutdown and restart of all onsite operations as the first nationwide lockdown forced construction sites to temporarily close.

Lisa led the company in successfully developing and implementing new business processes to adapt to different working locations, with many staff now working from home.

COVID-safe working procedures have also been formulated in line with construction and government guidance, along with a procedure for briefing the new protocols to managers and supervisors across the business.

Strong communication

Since the start of the pandemic, strong communication has been critical in ensuring clear and consistent direction. This has enabled the business to run smoothly and maintain the company’s excellent standards of customer service.

New initiatives, including the private employee Facebook group and online forum, have been launched to provide additional support to staff members.  These were aimed at strengthening interaction and ensuring employees could be kept informed about the business.

Proactive use of social media forums also played a part in keeping people connected, engaged, and motivated.

Mental health support

At Aptus Utilities supporting the mental health of employees is paramount and the additional pressures caused by the pandemic further underlined this need. The Aptus Utilities Health & Wellbeing Campaign, which launched in the spring promoting good physical and mental health, also aimed to highlight the support available to anyone affected by the ongoing crisis.

The new initiatives have been favourably received. An employee survey conducted in June showed that 97 per cent of respondents felt that Aptus had dealt with the COVID-19 crisis well or very well.

Ten months on, Lisa’s incisive leadership has ensured that the company has not only survived but continued to grow. Furthermore, robust new strategies developed during the crisis have assisted in strengthening the business, ensuring that Aptus Utilities will continue to be a strong asset to the construction industry for years to come.

National Business Women’s Awards

The National Business Women’s Awards is an annual celebration of the UK’s top businesswomen and recognises individual achievement in 19 categories. Two new awards, Business Chameleon and Lockdown Leader, were introduced in 2020 to recognise the response of business heads to the Coronavirus outbreak.

The winners of the National Business Women’s Awards will be announced during a ceremony at the Copthorne Tara Hotel in London on 14th May. You can view the full shortlist here.

Published on 25th January 2021