IT Training Awards 2009 celebrates outstanding achievement
The Institute of IT Training IT Training Awards for 2009 were presented at a glittering gala dinner held at The Dorchester in London last night. Despite the bad weather around the country, a capacity audience of over 450 people attended this year's awards, held at The Dorchester, in Park Lane, London, on Thursday 5th February.
Despite the bad weather around the country, a capacity audience of over 450 people attended this year's awards, held at The Dorchester, in Park Lane, London, on Thursday 5th February.
The event also included an address by Ann Mogridge, a ChildLine counsellor, who spoke about her counselling work with the ChildLine charity for children in trouble or danger, for which the Institute raised £10,900 in its annual Charity Auction. This brought the total raised by the Institute for the charity to £150,000.
Happy Computers and Cheshire NHS ICT Service both had a double reason to celebrate, with both winning two Gold Awards.
The blue riband award of Training Company of the Year was won by Happy Computers. It was a popular choice with the packed audience. The company also won the IT Trainer of the Year Awards when Chair of Judges Alan Bellinger announced Ed Lepre as the Gold Award winner.
Another company scooping two awards was Cheshire NHS ICT Service, whose internal training team won Training Department of the Year (Public Sector) and the Internal Training Project of the Year.
The Staff Development Programme of the Year award was won by HSBC. The award, sponsored by LLUK, was presented by David Hunter, Chief Executive of LLUK. He told a packed audience: "LLUK, your sector skills council, strongly supports the initiatives of the Institute ensuring that this important sector has the trainers and managers with appropriate qualifications and standards, enabling their recognition as true professionals."
HSBC scooped the Gold award from fierce competition from IBM UK (Silver) and Ricoh Germany (Bronze).
The new category of award, recognising best example of Innovation in Learning Services was won by the US company Toolwire, who had flown in a team from the US for the event.
The Colin Corder Award for an outstanding contribution to IT training went to Brian Sutton. This was an extremely well-received announcement with Brian walking to the stage to a standing ovation.
In his speech announcing the Colin Corder award, Colin Steed related Sutton's outstanding contribution to the industry.
"He is a tremendous ambassador for the profession and is one of the most respected commentators in training around the world. His many personal and professional qualities would have made him a credit to whatever field he chose. We should be grateful he chose IT training".
Denise Hudson-Lawson, from the Houses of Parliament, Parliamentary ICT, won the prestigious Training Manager of the Year. Julia Emelogu won the Freelance Trainer of the Year,
Other Gold Award winners were: FDM Group (Training Department), Verridian & Carphone Warehouse (External Training Project), Electronic Data Systems (Blended Learning Project), Etc Venues (Learning Facilities).
Institute chief executive Colin Steed, addressing the audience at the awards ceremony, said:
"The annual IT Training Awards honour those individuals and organisations who really shone in the past year and we are here to celebrate their achievements tonight.
"We must not underestimate the importance of giving national recognition to the skills and achievements that are driving best practice in our industry. Such initiatives are representative of a sector that is fast maturing to accomplish specific, relevant business results through the appropriate use of standards-driven IT training and development.
"The solutions and projects detailed in the award entries are enabling organisations throughout the country to deliver knowledge and learning faster and more efficiently - some in ways that were not possible before.
"Recent economic times have been tough for everyone in IT departments, and particularly for those working for IT training providers. But, once again, the quality of the entries has been higher than ever, which demonstrates that the industry is pushing forward and creating higher quality, measurable, business-aligned learning solutions.
"No matter what the market conditions are right now, in this time of financial uncertainty, quality and excellence remain key to success in this industry.
"I would like to congratulate everyone who entered the awards, every one of the finalists, and of course those who have won these prestigious awards.
"We should all aspire to the outstanding achievements that have been made by everyone who collects an award tonight."
The event was sponsored by the BCS and was hosted by Sky TV Breakfast presenter Lucy Alexander.
The 2010 IT Training Awards takes place on 4 February 2010.
FULL RESULTS
Innovation in Learning Services
Sponsored by itSMF UK
Gold: Toolwire
Silver: e-Learning for Healthcare
Internal Training Project of the Year
Sponsored by SAS
Gold: Cheshire ICT Service
Silver: AXA UK
External Training Project of the Year
Sponsored by Ricoh
Gold: Verridian & Carphone Warehouse
Silver: Contrast Training & Sunguard
Blended Learning Project of the Year
Sponsored by EMC
Gold: Electronic Data Systems (EDS)
Learning Facilities of the Year
Sponsored by 2E2
Gold: Etcetera Venues
Silver: The Moller Centre
Staff Development Programme of the Year
Sponsored by LLUK
Gold: HSBC, HTS Global Banking & Markets
Silver: IBM United Kingdom
Bronze: Wood Mackenzie & Pertamina
Training Manager of the Year
Sponsored by Hewlett Packard
Gold: Denise Hudson-Lawson, Houses of Parliament, Parliamentary ICT
Silver: Graeme Phillips, Firebrand
Freelance Trainer of the Year
Sponsored by Capital Training
Gold: Julia Emelogu
Silver: Marilyn Bennett
Trainer of the Year
Sponsored by OCR
Gold: Ed Lepre, Happy Computers
Silver: Jerome Henry, Fast Lane Consulting
Bronze: Michelle Sinclair, Afiniti
Training Department of the Year (Public Sector)
Sponsored by NCC
Gold: Cheshire ICT Service
Silver: London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Bronze: Houses of Parliament, Parliamentary ICT
Training Department of the Year
Sponsored by IBM
Gold: FDM Group
Silver: Espresso Group
Bronze: EMC Education Services
Training Company of the Year
Sponsored by Prometric
Gold: Happy Computers
Silver: Afiniti
Bronze: Firebrand
Colin Corder Award
Sponsored by Pearson VUE
Brian Sutton
end
Notes for Editors:
About the Institute of IT Training
Formed in November 1995, the Institute of IT Training (IITT) provides a professional membership structure for all individuals involved in IT training. Other key services include publishing standards that encompass all aspects of IT training, development and delivery and a comprehensive accreditation programme for any training service organisation, as well as a full learning & development consultancy service.
Within the IT training industry, the IITT is driving standards through its competency frameworks and by encouraging its world-leading qualifications - including the IITT Certificate in Training Delivery Skills, with now over 8,000 certificates issued. The Institute works with other organisations and professional bodies - first, to ensure its standards are as widely accepted as possible, and secondly to recognise other qualifications and experience and accept these against defined competency frameworks as evidence towards its own professional membership.
The IITT's philosophy is that the qualifications for admission to individual membership bands should realistically reflect job roles in the workplace. Therefore, qualification is achieved by proving competence in clearly defined training skills areas, along with technical expertise in the candidate's area of activity.
The Institute provides a comprehensive range of benefits and exclusive support services for its membership.
It also organises the world renowned IT Training Awards - presented annually in February - to encourage and celebrate excellence within the IT training world, and runs the IITT National Training Conference & Exhibition in September.