JOHN STONE SCOOPS UK WORKER OF THE YEAR 2010

Fire Protection Engineer from Kent becomes the first recipient of the title.

Dickies is proud to announce that John Stone, from Westerham near Sevenoaks in Kent has been crowned as the inaugural UK Worker of the Year. The workwear giant launched the feel-good initiative to recognise excellence in the British work force in April. At a gala awards ceremony tonight (29th October) in the Ballroom of Hertherden Hall at the famous Pinewood Film Studios, John Stone was honoured for his work in helping save lives as a Fire Protection Engineer in Kent. Runner up in the UK-wide competition is mobile vehicle body repair specialist, Andy Rose from Reading. Andy was also voted as the first “People’s Choice” winner - the monthly series of awards that Dickies has run in conjunction with the main competition. Since entries closed at the end of August, the Dickies Judging panel went through the mammoth task of whittling down the hundreds of entries received to a shortlist of nine. This group then met at Pinewood studios for the decisive face-to-face interviews with the panel of judges, which included TV Presenter Quentin Willson, Coronation Street Actress, Kate Anthony and Dickies European Sales and Marketing Director, Maurice Morton. “The majority of entries really exemplified what we were looking for in the search for the UK’s Worker of the Year,” explains Quentin Willson. “When we actually met the finalists, we were extremely impressed by all of them and they made choosing a winner no small task. “That said, John’s absolute love of his job and his ability to sell both himself and what he does came shining through. So in the end, though it was an extremely close-run affair, it was an almost unanimous decision.” A delighted John Stone received his UK Worker of the Year trophy from Maurice Morton and Quentin Willson. “I’m absolutely amazed. To win something like this is more than I could ever have dreamt of, but having spent a day with the other finalists I know they are all no less deserving of recognition for the work that they do. ” He then had to make his choice out of the three brand new Renaults that were on offer as the main prize for UK Worker of the Year. With a baby due in February, he understandably chose the Renault Grand Scenic, over the Megane Hatchback and Trafic Van. Runner-up Andy Rose also received a specially commissioned trophy as well as £2000 in holiday vouchers. Holiday vouchers for £2000 were also given to four other highly commended finalists; Car technicians Stuart White from Kent and Paul Robbie from Northumberland, Carpenter Lee Tilley from Wiltshire and Simon Wedgwood, a Crime Scene Investigator from Somerset. “Tonight has been really special,” comments Maurice Morton, “It was great to welcome all of our finalists and guests to this fantastic event at Pinewood. It has been a fitting climax to the competition and, like many aspects of the competition, has exceeded anything we hoped for. As a supplier of workwear for almost ninety years, Dickies is truly delighted to have honoured British workers through this scheme and we want it to flourish and expand over the coming years. I’m already looking forward to 2011!” More details can be found on the competition website: www.ukworkeroftheyear.com Or contact Gary Barak at Chicane on 01753 650004 (office) 07973 159070 (mobile) or email: gary@chicanemarketing.co.uk

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