Grosvenor House Hotel played host to over 1,000 recruitment professionals last night, as Recruiter magazine held it’s annual Awards for Excellence 2008, supported by Thomas International.
 
Dara O’ Briain, the Irish comedian and presenter of Mock the Week, gave the awards a comic’s touch with a rapturously met opening speech and award introductions.
 
The panel of judges included Steve Huxham, chairman of the Recruitment Society; Steven Kirkpatrick, managing director of Adecco Staffing UK and Ireland; Anthony Reeves, co-chairman of the Kellan Group and Nabila Sadiq, managing director of the Joslin Rowe temporaries.
 
Bob Wicks was the first winner who received the prestigious Gary Clark Individual Achievement Award. The accolade was given for outstanding contribution to the recruitment profession. Having established Select Education as a market leader, he has recently formed the Verb Group in January 2007. He also
lobbies at the highest level of government and supports the lifelong learning charity, Campaign for Learning.
 
LA International Computer Consultants won the Grand Prix Gold Award, which was decided using four groups of judges, who assessed a number of categories before presenting to the entire panel. The award was given after judges decided, in a blind vote, that LA International were the best in the
industry, Best Candidate Care was won by Science Recruitment Group. The award was given because the company puts candidates first, even hiring trainers with specific scientific qualifications to train staff.
 
Westaff won Best Client Care, who impressed judges by finding innovative and creative ways to manage to find the right candidates.

Full award winners 2008 are:
Award 1:  Gary Clark Individual Achievement Award presented by Recruiter 
Bob Wicks

Award 2:  Best Accountancy Recruitment Firm sponsored by GAAPweb
Definitive Consulting

Award 3:  Best Construction Recruitment Firm sponsored by Jobsgroup.net
Contract Scotland

Award 4:  Best Engineering Recruitment Firm sponsored by The Engineer
CBSbutler

Award 5:  Best Financial Services & Banking Recruitment Firm sponsored by totallyfinancial.com
WH Marks Sattin

Award 6:  Best Legal Recruitment Firm sponsored by The Lawyer
Laurence Simons

Award 7:  Best Health Care/Medical Recruitment Firm sponsored by
SRG

Award 8:  Best Human Resources Recruitment Firm presented by Resourcing Magazine
Digby Morgan

Award 9:  Best IT Recruitment Firm sponsored by My Key Pay
Spring Group

Award 10:  Best Logistics Recruitment Firm presented by Logistics Manager
Hunters Solutions

Award 11:  Best Marketing Recruitment Firm sponsored by SimplyMarketingJobs.co.uk
EMR

Award 12:  Best Office Support Recruitment Firm presented by Tomorrow's People
Joslin Rowe

Award 13:  Best Public Sector Recruitment Firm sponsored by Guardian Jobs
LA International Computer Consultants

Award 14:  Best Retail Recruitment Firm sponsored by Thomas International
McCarthy Recruitment

Award 15:  Best Managed Service Provider sponsored by Insentua
Omni Resource Management Solutions

Award 16:  Best Recruitment to Recruitment Firm presented by Recruiter
McCall

Award 17:  Recruiter Hot 100 2007 Winner sponsored by RBS
Sheffield Haworth

Award 18:  Best Newcomer sponsored by Back Office Support Services
McCarthy Recruitment

Award 19:  Best Recruitment Marketing Campaign sponsored by MKH Advertising
Relay Recruitment

Award 20:  Best Recruitment Firm Website sponsored by Conkers.net
Search Consultancy

Award 21:  Best Job Board sponsored by recruiter.co.uk
guardianjobs.co.uk

Award 22:  Best Candidate Care sponsored by Coyle Personnel
SRG

Award 23:  Best Client Care sponsored by Recruitment Software Solutions
Westaff (UK)

Award 24:  Best International Recruitment Firm sponsored by jobstoday.co.uk
Eutopia

Award 25:  Best Small to Medium Recruitment Firm to Work For sponsored by Mishcon de Reya
Contract Scotland

Award 26:  Best Medium to Large Recruitment Firm to Work For sponsored by Mishcon de Reya
Major Players

Award 27:  Grand Prix Gold Award sponsored by McCall
LA International Computer Consultants