Recruitment
“I'd like to nominate Giles Conway, Area Manager for Banbury, Bicester North, Bicester Village and Oxford Parkway.
A dynamic Manager who leads by example, with a pragmatic approach and always with a smile. Giles is quick to deal with any issues that arise and puts the needs of his staff and customers first. Nothing is too much trouble, and he does not hesitate to get involved, even in the most challenging situations.
Dependable, approachable and respected, Giles is a role model and gentleman, who wholeheartedly deserves recognition!“
“I would like to nominate Giles Conway area manager for Banbury Bicester North Bicester Village Oxford Parkway. Giles is such a brilliant manager he goes out of his way to help all of his staff and the support he gives us is second to none he is always pleasant and cheerful full even when he is up to his neck with work which is every day. He has so much time for all his staff, and if any of us ask him for anything he is on to it straight away. Over my working career I’ve worked under numerous managers and I have got to give it to Giles he is the best manager I’ve worked under. Let’s give Giles the recognition he so rightly deserves.“
“I’d like to nominate Giles Conway, Area Manager for BIOX.
Giles is a leader and knows what it takes to lead from the front and engage with his team. Nothing is ever a problem for Giles who is always on hand to listen be there, or even act when we need him the most! Giles always takes a hands-on approach in his role and never sits back and mucks in with his team at the drop of a hat without even asking him!
I have many personal reasons to thank Giles for everything he’s done for me, the support he has given me to further develop my career has been tremendous and I’m forever Indebted.
I could list a thousand words to describe Giles but for me it’s his approachability and supportive nature which makes him stand out from the crowd!
To finish if you’re ever down or need cheering up get Mr Conway to complete his rendition of “I want to break free” and I guarantee it will make your day 100% better!“
“I am happy to nominate Giles Conway as Rail Manager because although a very busy individual he has always been very helpful and professional towards staff and commuters. Always smiling no matter how much pressure he is under. A true gentleman and he will always have my support wherever or whenever needed“
“Giles is not just a fantastic Manager to his team. He is always willing to help absolutely everyone and he goes above and beyond. He is always positive and is a very good role model. I think he really really deserves this award.“
“I would like to nominate Giles for this prestigious award as I think he truly deserves to win. Not from a railway background, he hit the ground running when he joined the Chiltern team at Banbury, and he has been running it ever since.
He is very customer-focused, nothing seems too much trouble.
He has listened to our grumbles, moans, and ideas, backed us up in times of disruption, and never failed to voice his appreciation for his staff.“
“Outstanding.“
“I would like to nominate Giles as he works very hard he is also very fair also tries his best at sorting out problems that occur.“
“After a few years of upheaval where several managers came and went in quick succession, Giles took over at the helm of the Oxfordshire patch and quickly got stuck into resolving outstanding issues, bringing together the team as a team, encouraging us and supporting us to be our best selves. The area has become a much happier and efficient place to work which of course makes for a better experience for our customers. His door is always open and there is no issue too small or too big to bring to his attention.“
“Giles is the best manager, he's very supportive and always helps us when we need him. When something happens, he always tries his best to fix it. Fast reply to emails and calls. When we have bus replacement at the weekend, he always comes very early and helps out.
He is really the best manager in the world!!“
“I would like to nominate Giles Conway. Giles is a Team worker who supports his team on regular basis. He listens to colleagues' problems/issues and offers support. He always does his best to ensure tasks are seen through to the end. All of this is done with a smile.“
“Giles has my nomination for various reasons. Firstly, he works incredibly hard for passengers and also to maintain a happy staff in his area of responsibility. He is respected by people within the business and always goes the extra mile. He makes a difference even when things are challenging. People feel supported, included and motivated and enjoy working for him. This is also inclusive of agency staff who he makes feel valued and part of the team. He's honest, thoughtful and caring of both staff and passengers.
With challenging customers quite often he will be able to deescalate a situation, or if needed stand firm and apply the Railway by laws with compassion, efficiency and empathy. He is always smiling and accessible (even when he is under pressure) and visits all his stations and is seen on the concourses and on the platforms when things are really busy. He cares, and is not afraid to get involved in assists, directing passengers etc.
Quite frankly, if there were a few more Giles Conway’s in the world it would be a much better place! He inspires and leads by example and motivates people to be the best they can be. He gets peoples loyalty, and people aspire to be like him. He deserves to be recognised for his hard work, commitment and professionalism. He is fantastic.“
“Giles is undoubtedly the best manager we have had at Banbury. He is efficient, organised and best of all gets things done. Giles is excellent at addressing current and future problems. Our recent bus replacement days have run so smoothly and gained praise from both passengers, bus drivers and staff - all down to Giles' detailed planning. He is a great man manager, and it is a privilege to work for him.“
“Giles has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication, leadership, and proficiency in managing Banbury Train Station. His efforts have contributed to the smooth operation and improved experience for both commuters and staff.
Giles excels in motivating his team to achieve optimal performance. He is always positive and has the brightest smile always. He is a very respectful individual which is the thing I like most about him. He has always been there when i needed something and never fails to assist with anything we need.
He is also a brave manager as he stood up to kids who were attacking station staff and tried to advise them. I honestly look up to him as a great man and a great leader. I hope I can repay his kindness and dedication.
Therefore, I am nominating Giles as the best manager of the year.“
“This report nominates Giles for his outstanding performance and notable contributions as the train station manager. His dedication and accomplishments have significantly improved operational efficiency and elevated the overall standard of service at this train station.
Giles demonstrates visionary leadership, setting clear goals, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement among the staff. He has effectively guided the team towards organisational objectives.
Giles places paramount importance on safety and security. He has implemented rigorous safety measures and training programs to ensure a secure environment for passengers and staff.
He listens attentively to our concerns, provides solutions, and also a sense of assurance and care. He is the kindest man you can come across and motivates all of us to continuously work hard. I couldn't ask for a better manager really and he deserves this award.“
“I've now worked under Giles's management part-time for a couple of years and can honestly say that he makes me want to work part-time, full time and overtime as long as he's in charge. His work ethic, dedication and care for his team are so infectious, that they its mirrored back by the staff that work for him. Working for Giles is a privilege and an honour, he's truly a part of his team and not just a manager. He's as willing to get his hands dirty and his boots on the ground as he is to attend (likely dull) meetings and campaign for better ways of working. As an employee, you're listened to and respected, and all of a sudden you somehow find yourself wanting to take a 12-hour shift in the middle of January. Giles's management style is such a rarity and an inspiration to be a part of, there's truly no one more deserving of this award.“
“Outstanding! A people person. Most loved by the staff.“
“I would very much like to nominate Giles to win this award.
Giles is a dynamic leader, he thoroughly immerses himself in any task to hand and even more! The only manager I know who answers ALL his emails.
Always a cheery good morning for all staff, he is kind, compassionate plus professional all at the same time.“
“Giles is an Area Manager for Chiltern, who is responsible for the Oxfordshire area which is one of the main regions that we serve. Giles has only worked for the railway industry for nearly 2 years. Despite being a relative newcomer, he has excelled in every aspect of the role. This is shown by the fact that this year, he has already won ‘Manager of the Year’ within Chilterns internal GEM Awards for 2022.
Giles is a huge people manager and always has them at the forefront of his priorities, his keenness and strong leadership values is what make him such a popular manager not only amongst his team but with his peers and the wider leadership group and stakeholders.
His style is about how he can make sure that everyone is treated with a consistently kind and fair approach, with customer experience being his main driver each and every day. His team regularly comments about his willingness to walk in their shoes, and you can often see him performing customer duties at his stations and liaising with rail replacement services at weekends and bank holidays.
Giles is a lead-by-example manager, he is an example of what a true manager of people should be and delights in communicating with customers to ensure they always have the best experience.
Whilst leading his team Giles has many initiatives that he dives straight into without any question, knowing it’s the right thing to do. This never stops him from making sure his team has what they need to do the job day, day in and day out. From the very first week that he joined us, he created a weekly newsletter that covers everything from customer praise, engineering blocks, and business initiatives to where he will be every day in the area. To date, he has never missed issuing a Friday update and these are welcomed from his team as they provide all the business local comms that they need to be aware of.
Giles’s peer group has grown to truly respect him for his amazing style and team camaraderie, he always shares his work as best practice and offers support to ensure no one struggles. He is an aspirational leader and someone whose values and work ethic are extremely high, these are seen daily in his management style.
Giles has a large area to manage, but nothing is ever too much trouble for him. His determination to improve the working lives of his team, and the experience of our customers, deserves immense praise and recognition.“
“Giles is the best manager I have had in the 25years I have been with the company. He gets things done and he is always willing to help“
“Giles' impact has been nothing short of exceptional, the area he manages was slipping under previous management and lost its 'edge' that it once had.
Since Giles has taken over staff have felt supported, listened to, and most importantly, have seen and felt the results of his listening.
He's not afraid to stand up for what he believes in rather than toe a company line. He really cares about doing the right thing, his moral compass is calibrated, and he leads with vision and empowers his staff intuitively.
I believe Giles's difference is felt not only on his 'patch', but company-wide and has made noise industry wide too.“
“I would like to nominate Giles as the Rail Manager of the Year. He has shown passion towards his work, his team, his company and the customers. He provides absolutely the greatest support to the team members, I will never forget when I had hectic times at work when rail disruptions happened, and he came to help, worked with me so we can provide the best service to our customers. He is very keen to learn and is always happy to share his knowledge and website he's learnt which gives collective information so it helps our work massively. His enthusiasm and helpful attitude shine through every day he is working with us. He is on the job and always gets the job done, which is really impressive. He is also very personal and approachable. He showed that he is a very caring manager. I am lucky to be working with a manager like him.“
“Giles came to the rail industry from retail approximately 18 months ago so had a fresh pair of eyes.
Giles is hard working, productive and efficient with his time. The area he covers is vast and the responsibilities he has are wide ranging.
He finds time to make contact with team members on a regular basis and his weekly news letters are comprehensive. Giles gives confidence to his team to be his representative and backs decisions they make. He is always available at the end of the phone for advice. I believe he genuinely wants his team to develop and grow.
I believe he would be well deserving of this“
“Great awards last night – what a fantastic set up, everyone I spoke to who hadn’t been before were blown away by just how much creativity and effort goes in to it.”
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