Severn Valley is awarded top tourism accolade
THE Severn Valley Railway has been named as the winner of VisitEngland’s bronze award for Resilience and Innovation, beating off tough competition from hundreds of visitor attractions throughout England.
Chairman Mike Ball, managing director Helen Smith, Shelagh Paterson, of the SVR’s Charitable Trust, and Michelle Bevon, of the SVR Company Ltd, attended a ceremony at the Library of Birmingham, alongside representatives from other tourist attractions, hosted by broadcaster Clare Balding.
The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence champion the very best of the country’s tourism industry, celebrating quality, innovation, and best practice.
Helen said: “To have received this recognition at a national level for resilience and innovation is something that every single one of us at the SVR should be proud of.
“Since those first days of lockdown, we’ve faced countless difficulties in getting the railway through the devastating impacts of the Covid pandemic. We’ve proved ourselves capable of more than we’d ever thought and this award acknowledges that achievement.”
Mike added: “We’ve shown bravery, agility, resourcefulness and sheer determination. We’ve overcome each and every difficulty that’s been thrown at us.
“Huge congratulations to our more-than 1600 volunteers who, along with members of paid staff, have shown the SVR true resilience and innovation.”
In an earlier stage of the competition, the SVR won the county-level Visit Worcestershire award for the same category. The judges then were impressed by the improvements the SVR made in its virtual experience, digital PR, collaborations, wider tourism support, and business diversification, calling the organisation “an inspiration to others”, and also highlighted the railway’s apprenticeship scheme.