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Trevor Allen, the overall  winner of the first-ever REC Individual Membership Recruitment Award that celebrate the crème of professional recruiters in the UK, will be winging his way to New York after scooping first prize and the title of Recruiter of the Year.

An REC Professional Individual Member since 2003, Trevor was crowned Permanent Consultant of the Year in the awards with the judges then deciding to bestow on him the top prize.

The judges said of him: “Trevor is a great example of the caring side of recruitment. His motivation and enjoyment is in changing people’s lives for the better. In the current climate with the war for talent and diversity, he embraces modern recruitment.”

A recruitment consultant with Status Employment in Thornton Heath, Surrey, Trevor’s prize is a trip for two to New York.

Achieving a notable double in the awards was agency Workshop Industrial of Drayton near Portsmouth who supplied both Shaun Grant, the Temporary Consultant of the Year and Stuart Cox, winner of the Business Leader of the Year Award.

Judges said of Shaun: “He is clearly customer-focused and has an excellent relationship with both his clients and candidates.”

Stuart, who also currently holds the Portsmouth Business Personality of the Year title, impressed the judges with his ability to motivate and develop staff. “He is a leader who commands respect from his team but understands the importance of ‘fun’ in the workplace,” they said.

Sarah Pearson of Preferred IT in Southampton took the award for the best newcomer primarily for her ability to learn quickly and adapt to her new role within the IT sector.

Having already graduated with a first class Honours degree in Recruitment Practice this summer, Sue Trafford, also notched up a notable double by winning the Best Achievement from Training Award for her commitment to her own training development.

Sue, who runs her own business Inspired Selection in Oxford was described as “a true professional who understands the power of education and knowledge.”

Winner of the Business Manager of the Year Award is Zoe Wishart, who is with Blue Arrow/ABC Contract Services in Inverness, Scotland. Judges said she is “a strong performer, who has built her branch of the company from the ground up.”

They added she was highly regarded by both her staff and employer, outperforms company targets, and is “an individual who leads from the front to achieve success.”

Behind every successful recruiter is a very capable administrator and for her work in ensuring the smooth running of Plum Personnel in Solihull, the Special Achievement Award has gone to Vanessa Brooman. 

Judges said she always goes the extra mile; and was clearly appreciated and valued by her colleagues.

Organisers decided to name the Award for Outstanding contribution in memory of one of the REC’s most cherished members of staff, Eileen Simpson. This award has been given to David Winterburn of Harrison Winterburn based in Leeds in recognition of his ambassadorial role within the industry along with his 25 years experience and commitment.

“David’s time and dedication are to be admired and should be rewarded,” said the judges.

All the winners will receive a bottle of champagne and can display their own special winner logo after their names.

Organisers were delighted by both the fantastic response and the quality of the nominees. Plans are already in progress to stage them again next year.
The REC’s Professional Individual Membership is a mark of excellence within a complex and competitive industry, and the REC has established these awards to celebrate and highlight to the UK as a whole the professional excellence that exists behind its badge.

Anita Holbrow, the REC’s Marketing Director, said: “This is truly a landmark time. We are delighted to have had so many high quality entries which made the judging itself difficult”.

“Trevor truly exemplifies all that a modern recruiter should be as do all of the winners and indeed entrants. The success is a testament to REC members across this industry and an active example of work behind the REC badge of excellence.”

Full details of the winners are available on vodcast at www.rec.uk.com/awards.

The full list of winners is:

Recruiter of the Year and Permanent Consultant of the Year Awards - Trevor Allen MREC CertRP of Status Employment

Temporary Consultant or the Year Award – Shaun Grant AREC of Workshop Industrial

Best Newcomer – Sarah Pearson MREC CertRP of Preferred IT

Best Achievement from Training Award – Sue Trafford FREC BA (Hons) of Inspired Selection

Business Manager of the Year Award – Zoe Wishart FREC CertRP of Blue Arrow / ABC Contract Services

Business Leader of the Year Award – Stuart Cox FREC of Workshop Industrial

The Special Achievement Award – Vanessa Brooman AREC of Plum Personnel

The Eileen Simpson Award for Outstanding Contribution – David Winterburn FREC DipRP of Harrison Winterburn