The GO Awards are the UK’s leading public procurement excellence awards, celebrating the very best procurement achievements from across UK’s public, private and third sector organisations.

The recognition by GO is a testament to the development of the NEEB partnership and the community support it offers to the north Essex area.

NEEB was recognised by the panel in the Covid-19 Response and Recovery Award (Local Government) category for its work in procuring business and skills support programmes to help recovery from the pandemic.

Cllr Tom Cunningham, current NEEB chairman, said being highly commended was recognition of the work done by the councils to help communities during and after the pandemic.

“NEEB’s emergency programme to boost recovery from Covid-19, both economically for businesses and in skills training for residents facing a drastic change in their working lives, is helping our communities right now,” Cllr Cunningham said.