“Professional Body for Mediation Celebrates Dispute Resolution Best Practice!”

NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release

Issued from the offices of the Professional Mediators’ Association

29^th September 2014

• National Mediation Awards 2014 rewards top conflict resolution talent in London’s West End – Thursday 25^th September.
• The unsung heroes of the modern organisation acknowledged at glittering awards event.

The National Mediation Awards 2014, organised by the Professional Mediators’ Association (PMA) celebrated the cutting edge of current mediation practice, setting out a vision for alternative ways of resolving conflict in these difficult times.

The winners of the National Mediation Awards 2014 are as follows:

• Best Newcomer to Mediation: The Brandon Trust
• Independent mediator of the year: Sarah Crayford Brown
• Runner up: Joan Kelly
• Mediation Scheme of the Year: Lloyds Banking Group
• Runner up: Care UK
• Highly commended: Small Claims Mediation
• Regional Award: Smile Mediation
• Highly commended:Mediation Services
• Mediation Scheme Co-ordinator of the Year: Kate Grant (University of Southampton)
• Highly Commended:Annette Gimbert(Buckinghamshire New University)
• Mediation Champions of the Year: Holly Bonfield & Tanya Greaves(joint winners)
• Highly commended:Julie-Ann McCaffrey
• In House Mediator of the Year: Sajjad Iqbal ( North West London Hospitals NHS Trust)
• Award for Innovation in Online Dispute Resolution: Small Claims Mediation

Article and video competition winners:

• Best article: TonyBennett 'Reflections of an Internal Mediator'
• Highly commended: Giles Woolfson 'Tackling discrimination: Litigation or Mediation'
• Best video: Cleaver Fulton Rankin ‘ A Masterclass in Mediation'
• Highly commended: Brandon Trust ‘Mediation First’

PMA president, David Liddle presented the special President's Award to the Royal Mail Group for their innovative resolution work in a challenging industrial and employee relations environment.

Following the awards, David said

“Each of the winners of the National Mediation Awards 2014 has shown a real commitment to resolving disputes constructively and without the need for costly and stressful litigation. The mediator really is the unsung hero of the modern organisation. The PMA is delighted to have this opportunity to thank them and acknowledge their incredible efforts in resolving tough disputes.”

Held at Browns Court House in the heart of London’s West End, the ceremony was attended by UK’s leading mediators. Thomas R Lemon, US Attorney spoke of his extensive experience of mediation in the USA. To which UK Employment Judge, Laurie Anstis responded from the perspective of the English Bench.

Hear some of the great feedback we had from nominees and winners below:

“As newcomers I felt really encouraged and supported by the PMA... we’re so pleased and excited to be awarded the “Best Newcomer to Mediation” by the PMA. It’s going to give our Mediation scheme a real boost and is a testament to the hard work of our newly qualified Mediators. Having our Mediation video Highly commended by the PMA means that we can feel confident that we are giving a meaningful message to our staff about what mediation is and hopefully help them to feel encouraged and safe in the process should they ever need it”

                                                                     Julie Plant, Head of Learning and Development,Brandon Trust

                                                          ENDS

Press Contact – for further details, please contact Mercedes Brown, PMA Co-ordinator on 

E: Mercedes.Brown@professionalmediator.org

T: 020 7092 8840

About the PMA

The PMA is a non-profit membership body for business, employment and work place mediators.

We are run by mediators for mediators. Our definition of a professional mediator constitutes individuals committed to their personal development as mediators and those dedicated to the development and promotion of the mediation profession.

The PMA has a set of clearly developed practice standards and an exacting competency framework which ensures each member’s credibility.

There are 4 PMA values; Informing, Excellence, Transparency and collaboration. Find out more about us here