TThe North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) is thrilled to announce its success at the British Parking Awards 2025, where it took home two prestigious accolades, recognising both individual excellence and innovative collaboration.
Tanya McGrath, Enforcement Specialist, was awarded The Front Line Award, celebrating her outstanding dedication, professionalism, and compassionate approach to enforcement. Tanya’s work has consistently exemplified NEPP’s values, and her recognition is a testament to the vital role Civil Enforcement Officers play in keeping communities safe and accessible.
In addition, NEPP’s Beyond the Uniform campaign was honoured with the Special Jury Award, a category reserved for entries that have made an exceptional impact across all areas of the competition. Developed in partnership with Brighton & Hove City Council and funded by PATROL, the campaign challenged public perceptions of parking enforcement and highlighted the human stories behind the uniform. Since its launch in Harlow in January 2025, the campaign has led to a 73% reduction in reported incidents of violence and aggression towards officers in that area.
Image: Richard Walker, Colchester City Council Head of Strategic Parking and Recycling and Refuse, Jake England, Interim Head of NEPP, and representatives from Brighton and Hove Council and NSL.
Following the success of the pilot in Harlow, Beyond the Uniform is now being rolled out nationwide, with other local authorities adopting the campaign to improve public understanding and support for their enforcement teams.
Cllr Paul Honeywood, Chair of NEPP, said: “We are absolutely delighted with these wins. Tanya’s award is richly deserved, and the Special Jury Award for Beyond the Uniform is a powerful endorsement of the campaign’s impact. These honours reflect the creativity, compassion and commitment of our team and partners. We’re proud to be leading the way in changing perceptions and improving safety for our officers.”
The British Parking Awards shine a spotlight on excellence and innovation across the UK’s parking sector. This year’s event was the most competitive yet, with a record number of entries. NEPP’s success is a great example of what can be achieved through strong collaboration and a commitment to putting people at the centre of public service.
For more information on NEPP and the Beyond the Uniform campaign, visit: Beyond the Uniform – North Essex Parking Partnership.
