A pair of workers based in Newport have reached the final stage of national prizes honouring outstanding performance in operational management.

Julie Lammond-Ross and Daniel Stevens, staff members at UK Shared Business Services, have made the cut for the 2026 Operational Excellence Awards UK.

Mrs Lammond-Ross, who holds the position of operational excellence senior manager, is a contender in the Women in Operations class.

She brings almost four decades of public sector expertise and is acknowledged for contributions to service delivery, organisational transformation, and ongoing enhancement.

Mr Stevens, serving as an operations excellence specialist, has been selected for the Rising Star in Operations prize.

He has received commendation for his cooperative attitude and dedication to continuous development, acting as a role model for fellow staff members.

Tim Knight, the chief operating officer at UKSBS, stated that this outcome demonstrates the remarkable ability and commitment present throughout the organisation. He expressed pride in how staff members have adopted continuous improvement practices and noted his pleasure that the value they provide to clients has been acknowledged through these accolades.

UKSBS operates as a public sector shared services organisation supplying human resources, payroll, financial, procurement, and information technology solutions.

Mrs Lammond-Ross and Mr Stevens are among five candidates put forward by UKSBS this cycle, with additional classifications encompassing Operations Team of the Year, Operational Excellence in Public Sector, and Training Programme of the Year for its Green Belt Lean Six Sigma initiative.

The Operational Excellence Awards UK honour individuals and bodies establishing fresh standards in operational effectiveness and results.

The victors will be revealed at an event in the capital on 24 September 2026, at the Park Plaza London Riverbank venue.