Heywood Civic Centre has national star quality

Heywood Civic Centre Managers Graham Duckworth and Brian Johnson receiving their Award, presented by Denise Walsh alongside Councillor Leon Unczur, APSE English Chairman 2008/2009

Staff are celebrating at Heywood Civic Centre after they scooped a national award for public service excellence.

Staff received the good news at the APSE (Association of Public Sector Excellence) Awards as they took first prize in the category of most improved performer for Civic, Cultural & Community Venues 2008.

Collecting the award on behalf of Link4Life, Centre managers Brian Johnson and Graham Duckworth spoke of their delight in winning and paid tribute to all the staff at Heywood Civic Centre for their continuous hard work and commitment to the service.

Link4Life, who took over the management of the Civic Centre in April 2007, was one of over 400 representatives of local government front line services from throughout the UK that gathered at the Award Ceremony in Blackpool to hear the winners announced by actress and TV presenter Denise Welch.

Craig McAteer, Managing Director for Link4Life, the Rochdale Boroughwide Cultural Trust said: “The transition into the Trust has helped Heywood Civic Centre to enhance and improve its facilities. We have future plans to refurbish other parts of the Centre and look forward to increasing its reputation still further.”

Chairman of the Heywood Township, Councillor Alan McCarthy added: “This is great news for Heywood and well deserved. The Civic Centre plays a key role in the life of local people and as a centre for events and entertainment it is a real hub for the local community.”

Cabinet member for Leisure, Councillor Ted Flynn said: "I am delighted with this award - Heywood Civic Centre is a great facility for local people and to be externally recognised as being the most improved amenity of its kind in the country is a real boost and testament to the hard work put in by everyone involved."

APSE is the UK’s largest voluntary benchmarking service. It allows public sector services to compare performance and share best practice. The annual APSE Performance Network Awards celebrate the best performers across the UK in more than 20 different categories.

Heywood Civic Centre is one of North Manchester’s premier venues for entertainment, concerts, amateur and professional performances, theatrical shows and business meetings. Over the past three years Rochdale Borough Council has invested around half a million pounds in the Civic Centre which has undergone major refurbishment. Front and back stage facilities have been improved together with construction of a new entrance and foyer, box office and toilets. The meeting and conference rooms have also been refurbished and professional audio equipment added to allow the Civic Centre to operate at a high standard.