The shortlist for the The British APCO Control Room Innovation Award 2025 has officially been announced as part of the Control Room Awards 2025, honouring the outstanding professionalism, dedication, and compassion of the people working behind the scenes in control rooms across the UK and beyond.

The finalists for The British APCO Control Room Innovation Award are:

• Humber Bridge Control Room Project Team 

• The Joint Emergency Services Control Room Team - Anguilla (British Overseas Territory) 

• Emma Jepson and Phillip Ainsworth - Humberside Police 

Joining the judging panel this year was Jeremy Habberley, representing British APCO. Jeremy said: “It was my first time judging and I was delighted and honoured to represent British APCO. The experience was awe-inspiring, and I’m looking forward to a brilliant night celebrating some of these unsung heroes.”

Now in their seventh year, the Control Room Awards remain the only accolades dedicated to the unsung heroes in police, fire, ambulance, and coastguard control rooms, as well as other critical control operations, whose actions save lives and support frontline responders every day. Winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony on July 3 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Hull.

The 2025 Control Room Awards Judging Panel featured high-profile leaders from the control room sector, including:

• Andy Day, Director of Business Development (Public Safety Group), Sopra Steria

• Jeremy Habberley, British APCO Trustee 

• Becky Tipper, Account Executive - UK Policing, Salesforce

• Ben Hawkins, Former Winner and Control Room Mental Health Champion

• Mike Isherwood, Co-Founder of the Control Room Awards

Judging took place the day after the tragic events in Liverpool, where celebrations turned to horror. This incident underscored the vital role control room professionals play in coordinating fast, effective, and life-saving emergency responses.

Andy Day, who returned as a long-standing judge and headline sponsor, said “I am absolutely delighted to be back again for the 2025 Control Room Awards, this is such a highlight for me each year. After judging the awards for so long, you’d think it would get easier—but it never does. The level of courage, professionalism and compassion shown in the nominations is always humbling. 

On the eve of judging, we saw the horrifying scenes unfold in Liverpool. A night that should’ve been full of joy became something else entirely. The speed and coordination of the emergency services that night—Police, Fire, Ambulance and other agencies begins in the control room. This incident will have been extremely challenging and serves as another example of how vital our control room professionals are.”

Also joining the panel bringing fresh insight to the process was Becky Tipper of Salesforce, who spent more than 22 years working in Avon and Somerset Police control room. Becky said: 

As a first-time judge for the Control Room Awards, I found the experience incredibly moving. Every nomination told a powerful story - from moments where someone starts out as a voice on the end of a phone or radio, to becoming the person someone remembers for the rest of their life. These are people who show up day in, day out in some of the most challenging circumstances - saving and changing lives, supporting their communities and colleagues and working hard to improve service to the public, often without realising the full impact they have had.

To say ‘It’s just my job’  doesn’t even come close; it’s so much more than that. The bravery, compassion and dedication in these nominations was extraordinary. Narrowing it down to a shortlist was unbelievably difficult because there are so many worthy winners. That’s why these awards are so important. They shine a light on the individuals and teams whose dedication might not always be seen, but whose work transforms lives in the most profound ways. Everyone nominated should be extremely proud. You are truly remarkable. 

Sopra Steria and Salesforce are joint headline sponsors for the 2024 Control Room Awards, building on their existing collaboration through a new citizen-centric policing platform. This partnership aims to modernise contact and engagement in control rooms by integrating Sopra Steria’s STORM Command and Control system with Salesforce technology, improving emergency response and support for vulnerable individuals.

Finalists for the other 2025 Control Room Awards are: 

Bravery and Courage Award

• Debbie Real - London Fire Brigade 

• Annmarie Harper - Staffordshire and West Midlands Fire Control

• Tom Mander-MacGregor - Kent Police 

Community Champion Award 

• Jack Boyle - National Ambulance Service of Ireland

• Michael Toward - Durham Constabulary 

• Emma Dougal - Northumbria Police 

Control Room Ambassador of the Year 

• Amy Crackett - Northumbria Police 

• Christopher Blackman - South East Coast Ambulance Service 

• Courtney Hoare - East of England Ambulance Service 

Call Taker of the Year - Sponsored by Salesforce 

• Julia Durbin - Avon and Somerset Police 

• Paula Jones - London Fire Brigade

• Simon Proctor - North East Ambulance Service 

• Lauren Inglis - NHS Ayrshire and Arran 

Dispatcher of the Year- Sponsored by Sopra Steria

• Rachel Ness - Humberside Police 

• Nicola Smith - Staffordshire and West Midlands Fire Control 

• Aaron Conroy - National Ambulance Service Ireland 

• Toni Davies - North East Ambulance Service

John Gilhooly Award 

• Keri Drury - East of England Ambulance Service 

• Alisatir Strachan - Scottish Ambulance Service 

• Gillian Whitfield - Northumbria Police 

Leader of the Year 

• Russell Cox - Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary 

• Julia Nixon - Yorkshire Ambulance Service 

• Becky Davey - South East Coast Ambulance Service 

Lifetime Achievement 

• Keith - East of England Ambulance 

• Luke Shaw - Humberside Police 

• Luke Nebbet - South East Coast Ambulance 

Services to the Public 

• Helen White - Kent Police 

• Jamie Brown - Staffordshire and West Midlands Fire Control 

• Jo-anne Perryman - Kent Police 

Team of the Year Award 

• FCIR Learning and Development Team - Kent Police

• C Watch North Team 2 - London Ambulance Service

• Remote Patient Team - Yorkshire Ambulance Service

For more information on the Control Room Awards, visit www.controlroomawards.com.