SGS LOCAL HERO AWARDS 2024 WINNER

At SGS Engineering, we are proud to announce the winner of our fourth annual Local Hero Awards!

This year, the award goes to Mark Donaghy from Fareham, Hampshire, who has won a £1,000 cash prize for his exceptional contributions to his local community.

Mark Donaghy, a beloved gardener in his community, has earned this recognition through his unwavering dedication and selflessness.

Known for his generosity, Mark donates his time and skills to local primary schools, maintaining pond areas and clearing grounds. His efforts are a heartfelt way of giving back to the community that supported him and his wife during a personal tragedy, the loss of their youngest daughter in stillbirth.

Mark’s kindness extends to housebound individuals in his area, where he thoughtfully moves flowerpots near their windows so they can enjoy different flowers each week.

These small yet significant acts of kindness have endeared him to many and underscore why he received an overwhelming 98% of the public vote to clinch the title of our ‘2024 Local Hero Award’.

Discussing the win Mark expressed his gratitude: “Firstly, I would like to thank everyone involved and who voted for this amazing award. I am still shocked that I won. I try to help people as much as possible whenever I can, especially our community schools, as I am aware of the difficulties they face with budget restrictions these days.

“Our local community has helped us as a family over the years, which I always remember and like to repay that support wherever possible. The prize fund will be used towards a well-deserved family holiday.”

Other ‘Local Heroes’

Alongside Mark, two regional runners-up were also acknowledged for their remarkable contributions, and each will receive a £250 cash prize.

• David Kennard from Neptune’s Plumbing and Heating was recognised not only for his exceptional customer service but also for his environmental efforts through his charity, Neptune's Army of Rubbish Cleaners, which removes debris and 'ghost' equipment from the sea to mitigate environmental damage.

• Ashleigh Bartz, who works in the NHS, was nominated for his selflessness in assisting patients and colleagues at his local hospital. Our CEO, Neil Sansom, shared his thoughts on the awards: “Across the UK, there are so many tradespeople doing unsung things in their community, and we are so happy to continue highlighting these heroes with the Local Hero Award. Every year we receive stories that we haven’t heard before, and without these awards, they would have gone unrecognised, which is why the awards are so important.

“The whole SGS Engineering team wants to congratulate and thank all the tradespeople nominated for their sterling work. A special thank you must go out to Mark for his amazing work in his local community, and well done to all the finalists for being recognised as well.”

At SGS Engineering, we believe in celebrating those who make a difference. Congratulations to Mark Donaghy and all our finalists for their inspiring contribution.