We are pleased to announce the shortlist for the inaugural Professional Recruiter Awards for Excellence in Recruitment and Employment, sponsored by LSM, providers of complete financial outsourcing for the recruitment industry.

The awards - the first for the recruitment industry to be judged on objective criteria by a distinguished panel of end-users of staffing services - are the definitive recognition of innovation and excellence in recruitment practice.

Television sports presenter Gabby Logan will present the accolades at a lunchtime ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel in London on 21 March. The high-profile event will be attended by some of the leading figures in the recruitment community.

Judging took place last Thursday when the distinguished panel of judges examined and deliberated over the the entries of the leading companies in the recruitment community. The standard of entries was universally high, and the judges had a difficult task shortlisting for each of the categories.

Professional Recruiter would like to thank the distinguished panel of judges who took the time to become involved, as well as those companies who entered.

The judges are:

• Nicolas Mabin, director of recruitment, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young

• Simon Marquis, MD, Zenith Media

• Paul Smith, publishing director, People Management magazine

• David Fairhurst, resourcing director, Tesco

• Ken Donald, HR director, Samsung UK

• Miles Broadbent, chairman, executive search firm, The Miles Partnership

Professional Recruiter would also like to thank all our sponsors for their kind support.

One award also remains to be given. The Gold Award, sponsored by Revoco, will be announced on the day of the awards and go to the category winner whose entry most impresses the judges.

There are still places available for lunch at the Dorchester on 21 March. Those who would like to attend should contact Aaron Nicholls on 020 7296 4266.

Recruiter Awards for Excellence Shortlist 2002

Best Accountancy/ Financial Recruitment Firm (sponsored by MCA Consulting):

Finance Professionals; Parker Bridge; Robert Walters

Best Legal Recruitment Firm(sponsored by Charterhouse Group International):

Career Legal; Quantica Legal; Shaw Chapman

Best HR Recruitment Firm (sponsored byTotaljobs):

Courtenay; Interim Performers Ltd

Best IT Recruitment Firm (sponsored by GSR2R):

Computer People; DP Connect; Venturer IT Recruitment Ltd

Best Media Recruitment Firm (sponsored by Numerica Levy Gee):

Career Moves; Phee Farrer Jones; Recruit Media Ltd

Best Recruitment to Recruitment Firm (sponsored by recruitmentJOBZ.com):

CD Sales Recruitment; Perriam & Everett; Ruella James

Best Temporary Recruitment Agency (sponsored by ISV Multimedia):

Aptus Personnel; Horizon Recruitment; Reed Health Group

Best International Recruitment Firm (sponsored by Hargreaves James Associates Ltd): Antal International; Parity; Robert Walters

Best Executive Search Firm (sponsored by Glover Daniels):

Alexander Mann; Shaw Chapman; Teale Consulting

Best Commercial Recruitment Firm (sponsored by Intrinsica):

Aardvark Swift Consulting Ltd; Interim Performers Ltd; Recall Recruitment

Best E-cruitment Service (sponsored by UK Villages/Websalvo):

FirstPersonGlobal; GoJobsite; Workthing.com

Best Recruitment Website (sponsored by Ruella James PLC):

www.berkeley-scott.co.uk; www.firstpersonglobal.com; www.aswift.com

Best Recruitment Marketing Campaign (sponsored by Stonestreet Hawes):

Glover Daniels Executive Search; Options Employment Ltd; Wilding McArdle Wilson

Best Regional Recruitment Firm

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - Acorn Recruitment Ltd

Midlands - Now Recruitment

North - Baker Harding Recruitment Services

London and Home Counties - Action Recruitment Consultants Ltd

South and South West - Cathedral Appointments

Overall winner will be announced on 21 March.