Barnsley Council employees celebrate 25 and 40 years loyal service

This week, we were honoured to host our annual Long Service Award celebration in recognition of all our colleagues who have reached an incredible 25- and 40-years service with Barnsley Council. This year’s celebration, which was held in the Assembly Theatre at Barnsley Civic, was our biggest yet, with an incredible 73 employees receiving long service awards.  

This year, 56 colleagues were recognised for 25 years of service, having first joined Barnsley Council between 1 April 1999 and 31 March 2000. We also celebrated 17 colleagues who reached an extraordinary 40 years of service, having joined us between 1 April 1984 and 31 March 1985. In total, our dedicated employees have clocked up a phenomenal 2,080 years between them – what an achievement!  

Colleagues and their chosen guests were treated to a delicious afternoon tea, which was enjoyed whilst reminiscing and sharing stories of times gone by. Many memories were shared that really highlighted how much Barnsley and the council have changed through the years. A nostalgic presentation took everyone on a trip down memory lane, featuring chart-toppers, film premieres, and cultural highlights from the years our colleagues began their Barnsley Council careers.  

Colleagues were personally thanked by the Deputy Leader of Barnsley Council, Councillor Caroline Makinson, and the Chief Executive of Barnsley Council, Sarah Norman, who recognised their dedication, commitment, and contribution over the last 25 and 40 years in creating the borough of possibilities we see today.  

Each recipient was then presented with a long service certificate and a token of appreciation from their respective Executive Director, with a final thank you from the Mayor of Barnsley, Cllr David Leech, who echoed words of thanks and appreciation. 

Cllr Caroline Makinson, Deputy Leader of Barnsley Council, said: "I was delighted to attend this year's Long Service Awards celebration and have the chance to personally congratulate and thank our dedicated colleagues for their unwavering years of service. There was a real camaraderie, and it was lovely to reminisce with colleagues about days gone by and just how much our borough has evolved.  

“Our colleagues have stuck with us through many highs and lows and played an invaluable part in driving forward our ambitions for the borough and providing our residents with the support and services they need.”  

Sarah Norman, Chief Executive of Barnsley Council, said: "This year’s awards were fantastic – I couldn’t believe just how many colleagues had reached their 25 and 40 year milestones this year. It was such an honour to sit amongst them and celebrate their dedication and loyalty to the council.  

“Our employees are our greatest asset and at the very heart of our organisation. Events like this enable us to give back a small token of our appreciation and demonstrate our commitment to recognising and rewarding our colleagues’ achievements and the fantastic work they do. 

"So, to all our recipients, please accept our heartfelt thanks and appreciation for the last 25 and 40 years and here's to the next milestone."