Kingston scoops Best place to work in IT award

Kingston Communicationsí information technology team (Group IT) has beaten numerous other IT departments across the UK to be awarded the ëBest Place to Work in ITí Award 2006 in the Utilities and Communications category.

The awards are organised by leading computing magazine Computer Weekly who selected KCís IT department after reviewing hundreds of entries for their annual awards.

The awards, which are dedicated to highlighting and rewarding employment best practice in the IT industry, attracted entries from both private and public sector organisations throughout the UK.

According to Computer Weekly, Kingston Communications won the award after demonstrating its leadership in creating a stimulating working environment, projects, training and benefit packages that attract and retain staff.

Judges at this yearís event said ìThis year we dispensed with the shortlist because there was a gulf between the winners and everyone else. It was an open and shut case

ìWinning this award is just fantastic,î said Philip Raddon, Group IT Director at Kingston Communications. ìItís a testament to all the hard work that the team here have done to make sure we offer a rewarding and stimulating environment for our employees to work in.î

ìWe want to ensure that employees are inspired throughout their continued professional development and have the opportunity to be involved in the key initiatives driving IT forward.î

Kingston currently employs 220 IT professionals, who between them support around 2500 staff.

The company has a number of ongoing schemes to improve the working environment of its IT team, including an internal communication programme, staff development and satisfaction initiatives as well as team building events.

A spokesperson for Computer Weekly said ìEmployees who have a good working environment will be enthusiastic, pay attention to quality and go the extra mile to ensure excellence of the products and services their organisations provide. This in turn will reflect itself in the organisationís overall performance, thus creating a virtuous circle.

The core judging criteria were positive working environment, continued professional development, evidence of work/life balance, and equal opportunities.

Philip Raddon accepted the award at a prestigious ceremony at The Park Lane Hotel, London on 1st March 2006. This is the third annual award ceremony and last year Group IT was shortlisted in the same category narrowly losing out to BP.