The accolade was awarded in recognition of Fern’s expertise, passion and unwavering commitment to keeping customers, colleagues and communities safe during the Covid-19 pandemic.

RoSPA, known for its prestigious health and safety awards which impact the working lives of more than seven million people, received nearly 300 nominations from 19 different countries for the COVID Workplace Champion scheme.

Errol Taylor, RoSPA’s chief executive, said: “We know only too well the huge effort that has been required to keep workplaces functioning over the past 18 months. We also realise that this vital work must continue for the foreseeable future. Importantly, for each and every one of us, there are COVID Workplace Champions out there and this recognition scheme is for them.

“All businesses and organisations, big or small, have people who are working tirelessly to keep us safe - and often do so in the background and with little or no recognition. This is why we want to say to them: we see you; and we want to celebrate you.”

The news of being recognised as a RoSPA Covid Workplace Champion came as a surprise, as Fern Barclay explained: “I didn’t know that I had been nominated so it was a really nice surprise when the congratulations email and certificate landed in my inbox. I’d like to thank Dave Roy, Kingdom’s health & safety officer, for nominating me! I’m really pleased to have been recognised as a Covid Workplace Champion, it means a lot as it shows the value of the work that has been put in over the last few years to keep our employees and customers safe.”

Kingdom Group chief executive Bill Banks said: “Fern joined Kingdom as part of our 3 year Trainee Programme in 2019. The Programme supports our desire to provide training and employment opportunities across a range of professions and areas of work for young people. The Trainee Programme helps us build our talent pool and through investing in younger people, we are helping to develop our future leaders. Fern has been doing excellent work as part of our Health & Safety team to keep everyone safe throughout the pandemic, and I’m delighted that RoSPA has recognised her as a Covid Workplace Champion.”