Sir George Reid recognised for Lifetime Achievement at the Scottish Public Service Awards

Former Scottish Parliament presiding officer Sir George Reid has been given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Scottish Public Service Awards, in recognition of his contribution to public life.

Announcing the winner at the ceremony in Edinburgh, Deputy First Minister John Swinney paid tribute to Reid’s work in managing the Scottish Parliament’s construction and in pushing for greater transparency on MSPs expenses.

Elsewhere, Dundee and Angus College won the Campbell Christie Public Sector Reform Award, while Paisley’s bid for UK City of Culture 2021, delivered by Renfrewshire Council, was given the Community Engagement Award.

Steph Phillips from NHS 24 won the Leadership Award, while the Young Women Lead programme, run jointly by the Scottish Parliament and YWCA Scotland, was named winner of the Championing Gender Equality Award.

Reid served as an SNP MSP from 1999 to 2003, before succeeding David Steel as presiding officer in 2003. In 2007 he chose not to seek re-election, instead leading a review of governance at Stormont, before going on to serve as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Presenting Reid with his award, Swinney said: “I’ve been privileged to watch him over the years.  He’s particularly strong at reaching consensus and getting people to work together.  He was always the person the SNP put forward when there had to be cross-party cooperation: in both the 1979 and 1997 referendums and in the Steering Group for the Scottish Parliament.

“He’s happiest, I think, facilitating change.   At home and abroad, he has helped create an environment in which others can flourish.  Throughout his long and distinguished career, he’s been a real man of transition. To a better society of equal opportunity of rights and responsibilities for all.”

Full list of winners:

Campbell Christie Public Sector Reform Award

Going From Good to Great

Dundee and Angus College

Community Engagement Award

Paisley’s Bid for UK City of Culture 2021

Renfrewshire Council

Third Sector Partnership Award

Women’s Clinic Services

NHS Lothian and Sacro

Project and Programme Management Award

Glasgow 2018 European Championships

Glasgow City Council and Scottish Government

Leadership Award

Steph Phillips

NHS 24

Communications Award

How to do CPR

Save a Life for Scotland, Scottish Government and The Leith Agency

Digital Public Services Award

SAS ePR

NSS Digital Service

Championing Gender Equality Award

Young Women Lead

Scottish Parliament and YWCA Scotland

Rising Star Award

Caroline English

NHS 24

Employee Development and Skills Award

Professional Learning Academy

North Ayrshire Council

Policy Development Award

Redesigning the Scottish Income Tax System

Scottish Government

Commercial Partnerships Award

Care Cost Model

Scotland Excel

Lifetime Achievement Award

Sir George Reid