Following a fantastic 2022, the STR Group set its sights on achieving the top industry accolades this year, to recognise the extraordinary efforts of its staff on a national and international level.
Aiming for the top
We picked some of the most well-known awarding bodies in the industry, namely Recruiter, the Global Recruiter and the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC). But we began the year with the hugely important local awards – the News Portsmouth Business Excellence Awards.
With such big names, we knew we’d be up against some stiff competition but we were confident of being shortlisted for at least a few of our target categories, entering a total of 10 in all for the year.
Starting strong
In the years since Covid hit, we’d invested heavily in our infrastructure and our employee recognition, reward, training and development schemes. We’d also made a pledge to give back to our local community and the industries in which we work, set up our EDI Board, and made some really positive change. We therefore felt that the Employer of the Year accolade wasn’t completely out of our reach!
On the night of the awards, we sent 10 of our exceptional colleagues along to the glittering evening at the Guildhall to represent STR and enjoy a well-earned night out. The icing on the cake was being crowned Employer of the Year (see our blog for more details) and winning our first accolade of 2023! Our own Hollie Smith, Operations Director of STR Group’s marine brand, Navis Consulting, was also shortlisted for Entrepreneur of the Year for her incredible work on Boatbuilding News.
Industry recognition
Having scored at the local business awards, our next objective was to gain industry recognition from our recruitment peers. The applications went out the door in a flurry, with a number going out just before the summer break. On tenterhooks over the summer months, we were over the moon to be nominated for every single category we went for, standing shoulder to shoulder with some of the biggest names in the industry!
The Recruiter Awards saw us shortlisted for Best Engineering Recruitment Agency and Best Recruitment Agency Marketing Team. Meanwhile, Global Recruiter were considering us for Best Medium Recruitment Business, Best Specialist Recruitment Business and Best Candidate Attraction through Social Media. Finally at the most prestigious event in the recruitment awards calendar, could the REC really be considering awarding us Community Impact of the Year, Diversity Initiative of the Year, or even (whisper it) Best Company to Work For (over 50 employees)?
Although not successful this time at September’s Recruiter Awards, we came close at the Global Recruiter in November with a ‘Highly Commended’ for Best Medium Recruitment Business, which we were delighted with. That left us with just one chance left in 2023, and although we felt quietly confident, we were up against some serious competition. Could we go one better?
Finishing on a high
The REC Awards night is widely acknowledged as the most prestigious in the industry, with the glitterati of recruitment to be found out in force. Again, we invited 10 of our highest performing colleagues to represent STR, putting them up in London just down the road from the event at the elegant Royal Lancaster in Hyde Park.
As you may have guessed or seen from our blog and numerous celebratory social posts (sorry, we couldn’t resist), we scooped the big one! Being crowned ‘Best Company to Work For’. To top and tail 2023 with these awards means everything to us, from Board level to the newest graduate.
In the words of Clive Hutchings, our Executive Director and Founder:
“I, and the rest of the Board, feel a huge amount of pride and satisfaction that the work and commitment of our team here at STR has been recognised at the highest level, by our trade body and the judges who are themselves recruitment industry leaders. We really value our people at STR and this proves it!
“A big ‘thank you’ to everyone who made this possible.”
We can’t wait to find out what next year will bring, but one thing we can promise: we won’t rest on our laurels and we take nothing for granted. Pop back next year to see what we’ve got planned! Until then, from our family to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year.