Regional media group Archant rewarded its staff with an awards ceremony in London to celebrate those who have shone over the past year.
More than 160 division winners gathered at the Archant People Awards 2007 at the Landmark Hotel, Marylebone, to hear chief executive John Fry announce the overall winners in the 10 categories, which included employee of the year and innovation of the year.
Fry said: ‘The Archant People Awards 2007 were launched to focus on the achievements and excellence of staff right across the company.
‘We are keen to recognise and reward staff who do a great job and who have perhaps gone that extra mile.
‘Although we have some great products and brands, it is our people who make the difference, from journalists to advertising sales people, from administrators to project managers and accountants.’
The winners of the 10 awards received a trophy and a £500 Red Letter Day prize.
Sara Sharman, Ilford production manager at Archant London, scooped the top prize for employee of the year, with the judges commenting: ‘The level of positive comment and support for Sara was overwhelming. It is unusual to see such a commendation from the people who work for a nominee, but she has managed to build an excellent team spirit, while developing superb performance.’
The award for team of the year went to Archant’s contract publishing division – Archant Dialogue. Dialogue MD Bob Crawley collected the award for his 17-strong team, whose results the judges hailed as ‘incredible”with ‘a profit growth record which is superb and a hard-working team environment.”
Divisional winners in that category included the Harlow & Bishop’s Stortford Herald editorial team.
David Powles, news editor on the Norwich Evening News, Archant Norfolk, scooped the award for editorial person of the year, with the judges saying he had risen to the challenge during a period of change: ‘His work on stories across print, web and video are an example for others to follow”.
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