The awards, sponsored by Interserve Working Futures, will celebrate and champion best practice from across the employment related services sector, highlighting the day to day hard work and dedication of individuals and organisations in the industry who are supporting jobseekers to find employment and often making a genuine difference in people’s lives.

The entries were judged by Sarah Neville from the Financial Times, Matthew Oakley from Policy Exchange, and Julia Sweeney from the Department for Work & Pensions. The winners will be announced at a special ceremony in London on May 13, with a drinks reception sponsored by Specialist Recruitment Partners.

Kirsty McHugh, Chief Executive of ERSA, said:

“We are delighted that the awards have attracted so many entries in their inaugural year. The standard of the entries, in showcasing a diverse range of pioneering initiatives and individual contributions within the employment related services sector, was exceptionally high. The stories behind the entries provide further testament to the exceptional work going on across our sector in delivering sustainable employment and supporting economic recovery.”

The full list of finalists is as follows:

The Innovation Award (sponsored by Alderwood Education)
• EOS
• Ingeus
• Shaw Trust / CDG

Supply Chain Partner of the Year Award (sponsored by ICONI Software)
• Affinity Sutton
• Clarion
• NCDA Newhaven (nominated by G4S)
• St Loye’s Foundation

Significant Achievement Award (sponsored by JCA)
• Terence Burton (nominated by Serco)
• David Cole (nominated by Tomorrow’s People)
• Charlotte McAllister (nominated by Mencap)

Large Employer of the Year Award (sponsored by Mencap)
• B&M Stores (nominated by Ingeus)
• The Co-operative Group (nominated by A4e and CDG / WISE Ability)
• TNT Post (nominated by Ingeus)

Small or Medium Employer of the Year Award (sponsored by PublicCo)
• Distinctive Chesterfields (nominated by Ingeus)
• Elixir Group (nominated by Tomorrow’s People)
• The Whitehouse Hotel - Llandudno (nominated by Working Links)

Advisor of the Year (sponsored by Workpays)
• Lauren Bailey-Rhodes (nominated by Manchester Cathedral)
• Bobbie Graham (nominated by GOALS)
• Naomi Ilagoswa (nominated by G4S)
• Glyn Mason (nominated by Olympus Care Services)

The Institute of Employability Professionals (IEP) Professionalisation Award
• London Borough of Tower Hamlets
• Seetec
• Working Links

The ERSA Employability Awards night will also see the presentation of the JCA MAPS Bursary Award which is awarded to people who best demonstrate life-changing progress through the assistance they have received from their advisor using JCA employability tools.

The finalists for the JCA MAPS Bursary are:
• Olma Edeki
• Lisa Bond
• Philippa Gough

The ERSA Employability Awards 2013 are being organised on behalf of ERSA by Carley Consult Ltd. For any queries about the entry process, please contact Jane Shelley on 01777 712670 or e-mail (jshelley@carleyconsult.co.uk).