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The Re:locate Awards 2010/11 Gala Dinner and Presentation Ceremony, held on Thursday 12 May 2011 at London’s Institute of Directors, was a resounding success.
In what was a record year for entries to relocation’s premier awards, all the available tickets were snapped up, and there was a real buzz of excitement in the air as guests from across the relocation spectrum – including both HR professionals and suppliers – networked the night away as they awaited the announcement of the winners.
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Celebrity guest speaker and host Floella Benjamin, broadcaster, actress, writer, cultural ambassador for the London 2012 Olympic Games, international children’s campaigner and member of the House of Lords, entertained and inspired in equal measure. Her infectious enthusiasm and lively style perfectly captured the mood of an evening dedicated to celebrating success and innovation.
Between them, the ten awards – including three new categories for 2010/11 – recognised individuals, teams, policy and innovation, with a choice of categories for HR and service providers. The high-calibre shortlist reflected the many different types of organisation involved in relocation.
Our winners represented organisations large and small; their stories serve as glowing examples of best practice in relocation. Find out more in the special awards issue of Re:locate – out at the end of June.
The evening unfolds
The event began with a champagne reception and live music from the talented Robert Reid Trio, who perform at jazz venues, concerts and private engagements in the South East, playing their own arrangements of some of the best compositions of the great American songwriters, plus Latin and blues.
In her introduction to the awards presentation, Fiona Murchie, Re:locate’s managing editor, said, “It’s wonderful to have full capacity at our dinner tonight, with more overseas guests than ever before, confirming that these awards are now firmly established in the international arena.
“Relocation is a growth industry. There is no going back. With economic recovery underway, and the world shrinking almost by the day, companies are reaching further afield in search of new opportunities and new markets. Having the right people in the right place at the right time is key to this, making the role of HR and relocation professionals more important than ever.
“Against this background, it’s vital that we promote and celebrate best practice in relocation, and nurture talent.
“For the people who make relocation happen – people like you – there are fantastic opportunities out there, but there are also challenges. Your greatest challenges are to adapt to change, be flexible, react quickly, be compliant with legislation, and work together to solve problems.
“Through its ability to make connections across the diverse and complex spectrum of relocation, and to bring professionals from different fields together, Re:locate will support you every step of the way.”
New charity initiative
Pursuing the theme of making connections, Fiona Murchie announced the launch of Making a Difference, a new Re:locate charitable initiative for the relocation sector. “With a growing number of organisations committing to corporate and social responsibility projects, and in view of recent natural disasters and world events, now is the perfect time to put the wealth of relocation industry experience to good use.”
Explaining the choice of charities for 2011, Fiona said, “This year, as Baroness Benjamin is president of Barnados, and as homes and the support of children are so fundamental to relocation, we will be fundraising for this charity, which is devoted to providing support and stability for children without the support network of families.
“Our second charity for this year will be VSO, which works with so many companies and organisations to bring expertise where it is most needed.”
VSO was represented at the Gala Awards Dinner by Helen Hambleton, HR director, consumer marketing, at GSK, who described to the audience a fascinating project she had undertaken for the organisation.
For further details of Making a Difference, click here.
Thank yous
We are very grateful to our sponsors, Cartus, Connells Relocation Services, Fully Furnished, Interdean International Relocation, MoveAssist International, NatWest Global Employee Banking, Newland Chase, Roomservice by Cort, and SIRVA Relocation.
Our thanks also go to our Supporters, EuRA, Now Health International, Pricoa Relocation and Red Recruit, and to the Association of Relocation Professionals (ARP), FOCUS and the Relocation Users Group (RUG), all of which provided professional endorsements.
This year’s panel of independent judges devoted a considerable amount of time and expertise to scrutinising and analysing the entries. We thank them, too. They are:
- Elaine Crowe, chair of the Relocation Users Group
- Susie Inwood, formerly of BG
- Janet Kidner, head of sustainability, Lend Lease UK
- Sally Lockhart, independent global mobility consultant
- Eileen Pevreall, global, information services and technology director, CIPD
- Sue Shortland, principal lecturer and course leader, London Metropolitan University
- Alison Van Dalen, chair of the ARP
- Taryn Whitfield, independent global mobility consultant
Last, but certainly not least, Re:locate would like to thank everyone who entered for supporting excellence in relocation and raising the profile of our profession.
