The Springboard Consultancy (SBC), a UK-based international training company specialising in addressing women’s development issues, will again be sponsoring the Coaching and Mentoring Award offered by the British Association for Women in Policing (BAWP).

Now in their tenth year – and the only awards in policing specifically intended for women – the BAWP Awards recognise the contributions and achievements of women within the police service.  The Awards ceremony will take place at a luncheon in June at the Worsley Park Marriott Hotel & Country Club, in Manchester.

“The Coaching and Mentoring Award recognises an officer or member of staff who has distinguished herself with positive support, influence and assistance to women in law enforcement by developing programmes, training and/or policies benefiting females in the organisation,” explained Liz Willis, a consultant with SBC.

“The Award harmonises well with SBC’s career development programme for people who are approaching, or are new to, a management role. The programme, which includes coaching support, is called Spring Forward – which is one reason why SBC is keen to support this Award.

“Spring Forward reduces the time taken for people to settle into a management role, improves their work performance, gives newly promoted managers the skills and confidence in adapting to their new role and supports people in considering a management role,” added Liz.

Liz Willis, of The Springboard Consultancy.

Previous winners of the BAWP Coaching and Mentoring Award include Dee Collins, who won the Award in 2013 and is now temporary chief constable of West Yorkshire Police. In 2013, Dee was also awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for her contribution towards British Policing.

Dee began her policing career in 1987 with Cleveland Police, where she became a Superintendent. She joined Cumbria Constabulary as Commander of its South Basic Command Unit in August 2005 and, in April 2007, became Derbyshire Police’s Assistant Chief Constable Support, before joining West Yorkshire Police in January 2014 as Assistant Chief Constable – and becoming Temporary Chief Constable in June that year.

West Yorkshire Police serves some 2.2m people and covers the five metropolitan districts of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield. The physical area, of some 2000 square kilometres or 780 square miles, contains the West Yorkshire conurbation and a network of motorway and trunk roads.