Radical changes for 2008 Awards

19-Sep-2007

An exciting new era begins for Recruiter's Awards for Excellence, supported by Thomas International, with the launch this week of the 2008 call for entries.

The first development is that the application form has gone online this year. The new form make entering the Awards more convenient, and saves time, paper and postage costs.

However, the most dramatic changes next year will be in the 25 categories. "In response to a number of recruiters' suggestions, we have redefined a number of existing Award categories to focus them more tightly on specific sectors. We have also created new categories that are designed to emphasise the service experiences provided to candidates and clients," said Recruiter editor DeeDee Doke.

A category for Best Recruitment Firm to Work For has been included, to recognise recruitment firms' own efforts to become employers of choice in a highly competitive marketplace.

Other categories have been added to recognise excellence in recruitment sectors that had not previously been included, such as health care/medical, human resources, marketing, and retail.

The Best Recruitment-to-Recruitment Firm category will undergo big changes this year, Doke said. For the first time, clients of rec-to-rec firms must nominate their preferred service provider instead of companies nominating themselves. Researchers will then conduct a reputation poll of senior management and directors of 100 recruitment companies to determine the winner. There will be no entry fee.

Steven Kirkpatrick, managing director of Adecco Staffing in the UK and Ireland, is one of the 21 judges who will adjudicate the Awards. He told Recruiter: "Being selected to be involved in choosing winners is an honour, as this responsibility in selecting what represents world class cannot be taken lightly. It will be a fantastic opportunity to focus on quality of service, and the difference it has made to our clients and the wider economy as a whole."

The deadline for entries is 6 November. The 2008 Awards will be presented at the Grosvenor House Hotel on 28 April.

• See "Let's meet the judges..."  to read about the judges for the 2008 Awards. And visit www.recruiterawards.co.uk to see the categories, entry criteria and to enter the Awards.