Public urged to back teacher Julie

Staffordshire County Council is urging the public to vote for the county's only finalist in the national Council Worker of the Year Awards.

Julie Moulds is a teacher from Little Aston Primary School and has been shortlisted in the environment category. Julie said: "I was so pleased to have even been nominated for this award so it is a real honour to have made it to the finals. Of course I would be thrilled to win.

Although my work won't change the world in a second I am a true believer that every little bit of effort makes a difference and it is nice that that has been noticed."

Julie was nominated for the award by Little Aston Primary School head teacher Elizabeth Pearce who said: "I am delighted that Julie's hard work has been recognised in this way. The environment is built into everything that Julie does in Little Aston and in her home town of Lichfield. She is always modestly reminding us that she doesn't work alone."

As well as her work in the school Julie has set up an eco-council which meets regularly leads on large projects to improve the environment.

Staffordshire County Council's Chief Executive Ron Hilton said: "I am extremely proud that yet again the hard work of one of our employees has been recognised. Julie's nomination not only highlights her fantastic work but also reminds us that we all need to take responsibility for our environment. I would encourage everyone to vote for her so that she gets the recognition she deserves."

Julie will be battling it out with 48 other finalists in 10 categories from councils across the UK .

Winners will be announced by BBC presenter Jeremy Vine at a gala dinner at this year's LGA annual conference at the Harrogate Internal Centre.

He said: "Council workers so often get blamed for everything, even the stuff that wasn't their fault. These awards are fantastic because they show the standards that are being set by people who really understand what public service is."

You can find out more at www.staffordshire.gov.uk