Atkins leads the field as best place to work in IT

Engineering firmAtkinshas won the top prize at Computer Weekly's Best Places to Work in IT Awards 2007.

The firm received its award in a ceremony at the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square last week, taking the Best of the Best Award in the face of stiff competition.

Lesley Hume, group IS director at Atkins, said, "Changing the working environment makes all the difference. At the end of the day all we have is our people."

Atkins impressed the judges with its commitment to developing its IT employees, its family-friendly working policies, and its encouragement of staff to take part in environmentally friendly initiatives at work.

The engineering firm beat high quality entries from across the public and private sectors.

Category winners

Construction, agriculture & mining and Best of the Best

• Atkins

Financial services, including insurance

• Friends Provident

Hospitality, entertainment & leisure

• Betfair

Banking (retail, wholesale & commercial)

• Birmingham Midshires

IT software & hardware suppliers

• Data Connection

Local government

• Kent County Council

Manufacturing & engineering

• Procter & Gamble

Public services & non-profit sectors

• The Coal Authority

Retail, wholesale & distribution

• Asda Stores

Utilities & telecommunications

• Kingston Communications (Hull)

Business & professional services

• Berwin Leighton Paisner

Central government

• Web Exploitation Division of Army Information Services

IT services suppliers (including outsource providers)

• ITRM

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