Rewarding best practice at work

On the eve of the Best Places to Work in IT Awards ceremony, we look at how firms' internal schemes recognise staff achievements

Tomorrow (2 March) the winners of the Computer Weekly Best Places to Work in IT 2005 will be revealed at a special luncheon at The Park Lane Hotel, London. All the shortlisted entrants have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to making the workplace a worthwhile place to be for their staff.

All have shown a commitment to best practice that provides a valuable example for all IT organisations, especially those actively seeking to improve their attractions as a place to work in the recovering IT market.

The criteria for selecting the organisations in the shortlist focused on:

l Positive working environment as evidenced by effective team building, stimulating projects and innovative and attractive benefits package

l Continued professional development as evidenced by enjoyable and effective training, coaching and mentoring as well as valuable appraisal methods and genuine career progression

l Practical evidence of commitment to a fulfilling work/life balance and to equal opportunities.

One of our shortlisted candidates, Gartner, has even set up its own internal awards scheme. "It enables employees to 'recognise' their colleague's outstanding work, and nominate individuals for organisation-wide awards which are given on a quarterly basis and reflect Gartner's core values," said Eve Mitchell, project manager IS EMEA at Gartner.

Communication and recognition is also high on the agenda for construction industry services group Davis Langdon. "Within IT, we encourage openness and discussion; no one has all the answers," said the firm. "Monthly one-to-one, department and team meetings are used to communicate and share goals, objectives and news, plus we are planning our first 'IT conference' day later this year to combine learning, getting to know each other better and letting our hair down."

If you want to be a star, Barclays Bank, Service Point, Enable is the place for you. "Star is a highly successful recognition scheme which gives members of staff the ability to acknowledge the behaviours and achievements of their colleagues, no matter how big or small," said the group.

"It comprises six recognition elements, ranging from a thank you card to a television or DVD player. This year 50 members of staff in Service Point have been awarded thank you cards and gifts, and there have been five 'Big Achievement' awards and five 'Role Model' awards."

Computer Weekly's Best Places to Work 2005 Awards are organised in association with Sun Microsystems and are sponsored by recruitment and resourcing groups Hudson, Madison Black, Orgtel Finance, Pathway IT Resourcing, Progressive, Real IT Resourcing, Search IT, and the IT Job Board.

The shortlist   

Final winners will be selected from the 35 organisations listed below   

Banking & Finance 

• Allianz Cornhill 
• Barclays Bank, Service Point, Enable  
• Birmingham Midshires 
• Citigroup, Technology Infrastructure 

Business Services 

• Hogg Robinson 
• The Corps 
• Telereal 
• Gartner 

Central & Local Government 

• Adult Learning Inspectorate
• Department for International Development 
• Land Registry (Information Systems) 

Construction, Agriculture & Mining 

• Bucknall Austin 
• Davis Langdon LLP  
• Mace 

IT Software, Hardware & Services  (less than 250 employees supported) 

• Brett Technologies  
• Cobweb Solutions 
• Newchurch 
• Tessella Support Services 

IT Software, Hardware & Services  (more than 250 employees supported) 

• Compuware 
• Data Connection  
• ITRM 

Manufacturing & Engineering 

• BWB Partnership 
• Procter & Gamble  
• WS Atkins 

Media, Hospitality, Entertainment & Leisure 

• Fishburn Hedges
• Betfair 
• The NEC Group

Other Public Sector & non-profit sector 

• Classroom 2000 (C2K) 
• Metropolitan Police Service Directorate of Information 

Retail, Wholesale & Distribution 

• ASDA 
• Avon Cosmetics 
• Hillarys Blinds 

Utilities & Communications 

• BP IST 
• Kingston Communications (Hull) 
• Thus

The judging panel   

Members of the judging panel for Best Place to Work in IT 2005 combine the best of business, IT and employment expertise. They include:   

British Computer Society 

With a membership of more than 42,000, the BCS is the leading professional and learned society in the field of computers and IT.   

IT Directors' Network 

This social, networking club for heads of IT (or equivalent) was formed more than 18 months ago. Co-founders Roger Ellis and Julie Loveday have had a long association with the IT industry.   

UK Oracle User Group 

An organisation that provides an independent voice for corporations and individuals using Oracle products and technologies in the UK and Ireland. 

E-Skills UK 

The industry body responsible for articulating and acting on the IT skills needs of UK employers.   

National Computing Centre 

The independent membership and research organisation whose mission is to promote the more effective use of IT.    

Communications Management Association 

The UK's premier business communications user association represents individuals who have responsibility for communications systems. Members are drawn from the ranks of the top 1,000 UK organisations.

Book your place at the ceremony       

The final winners of Best Places to Work in IT Awards 2005 will be announced at the awards luncheon at The Park Lane Hotel, London on Wednesday 2 March.  

Join Computer Weekly and fellow IT professionals from across the industry at this celebration of the very best IT workplace practice.

Places are limited so to ensure your table, contact Teresa Murphy on 020-8652 3887 e-mail  teresa.murphy@rbi.co.uk 

Click here to book online >>