Organised by Yorkshire Post Newspapers in association with trade association the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), the awards at Leeds United’s Elland Road Conference and Exhibition centre saw winners in ten categories announced. Beneath a ceiling sparkling with thousands of twinkling lights, the awards were presented by REC head of member services Carol Scott and Yorkshire Post Newspapers advertisement director Dawn Sweeney.
The pair were on the judging panel along with PR agency boss Emily Carrie and Steven Bonfield, a Huddersfield-based partner at West Yorkshire law firm Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors.
Jarvis Johnson scooped the Magnetism award, which recognized the company's extra special efforts to attract clients.
The firm's managing director Lisa Johnson said getting the award was "absolutely fabulous".
"We have had a fantastic year and we have got an amazing team," she added.
Annaleigh Marshall from Hamilton Caine was highly commended, as an Unsung Hero while the winner was Susan Allen from Stafforce. She said: "I'm over the moon and overwhelmed. It's great for the company."
In the Best Recruitment Advert category, the judges were looking for an eye-catching and appealing advert. Barkers with 02 were highly commended while TCS with Asda were the winners. And the Client Satisfaction prize, which recognised excellent customer service, was taken by Sevenhr. Anna Taylor said: "it's fantastic, this is the one that was really important to us."
Colleague Rebecca Taylor added: "Serving our customers has always been number one."
Caroline Albrecht from JPA Recruitment was named Best
Recruitment Consultant. She said: "I am really pleased to have received this award and I am delighted that a consultant working in the recruitment to recruitment market has been recognised for their level of commitment."
Best Recruitment Advertising Campaign, recognising the development of an idea over at least three adverts or items, was won by Barkers with Ventura.
Accepting the award, Suzanne Partner said: "The amount of work that the team have put into it has meant working week after week to go out and do something different. "It's a brilliant achievement."
In the Rising Star category, Shona Ferguson from Preferred IT was highly commended and the winner was Andrew Fraser from Northern Health Solutions.
Andrew said: "It's fantastic, a surprise and a great achievement." Sevenhr was highly commended in the Best Recruitment Website section, while Hamilton Caine was the winner. Hassan Mirza from the firm said: "We are absolutely delighted. It's brilliant and unexpected."
Mark Gardiner from Stark Brooks was named Best Manager as somebody who provides direction, motivates others and is a role model. He said he was delighted but added: "it's a team effort."
The final award of the night, Best Team, was sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland.
SVB Recruitment were named the winners and Matt and Sally Barrett, from the firm, said: "We and the team at SVB are delighted about this recognition for all the effort they have put into their team culture."
As well as the awards, guests also tucked into a three course meal and raised £600 for Yorkshire Cancer Research through a raffle. After the ceremony, they were entertained by live band The Solicitors and the fun continued until late into the night.
Carol Scott, from the REC, said: “The REC is delighted to have been involved with this the second Yorkshire Post Newspapers Recruitment Awards and we congratulate all the worthy winners and nominees.
“Over the past year, the REC has committed itself to again raising the bar on professional standards within the recruitment industry and these businesses and individuals in Yorkshire exemplify the high quality we are now increasingly seeing not just in Yorkshire, but throughout the whole of the UK.”