INDEPENDENT Ireland-based accountancy practice PKF-FPM made history on Thursday night when it was named as the inaugural winner of the overall Employer of the Year honour at the 13th Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards in Titanic Belfast.
In front of a 600-plus audience, the Newry firm – which down through the years has picked up a number of WEA accolades in a range of categories – was chosen by the judges from the 192 entries received.
In their citation, the judges said they were seeking out a firm with a unique wow factor, and which has teamwork embedded in its very DNA – “and we found it in PKF-FPM, which has been on this stage many times down the years”.
They added: “PKF-FPM embodies a hard-working attitude backed up by creativity, ambition and energy, but which involves putting its people front and centre of everything it does, and in an innovative way.
“It’s hard to find a flaw in how it energises its team, from senior management down to its newest intake of people.”
As well as the kudos of being named as overall Employer of the Year, PKF-FPM will also receive a special engagement workshop from wellbeing partner the Ulster Orchestra, which will enable further employee engagement.
The win capped another hugely successful year for the cross-border firm, which just last month was awarded two of the most sought-after honours at the Irish Accountancy Awards in Dublin, namely Large Practice of the Year and Individual Excellence Accountant of the Year (for managing partner Feargal McCormack), adding to a clutch of honours at the recent British Accountancy Awards.
Last night proved particularly fruitful for Newry, with two other companies from the city annexing a top WEA accolade.
Marine fit-out firm MJM Marine was declared Team of the Year (large category) while construction company mac-group was named Best Place to Work (large).
Among the household name winners elsewhere were legal firm A&L Goodbody (Workplace Excellence), Novosco (Employer for the Future) and a recipient from previous years in CDE Global (Workplace Wellbeing).
But awards also went to lesser-known companies such as ReCon Waste Management (Workplace Wellbeing), Digestors, Silos & Tanks (Workplace Excellence) and Granville Ecopark (Employer for the Future).
Three educational organisations were also honoured – the Careers Academy at North West Regional College (Inspiring Talent – Small), St Mary’s College, Derry (Career Inspiration – Large) and St Michael’s College, Enniskillen (Career Inspiration – Small). A full list of the winners is included on the page opposite.
This year’s awards initiative shattered all previous records, with the highest ever total of entries at almost 200, including 40 who were completely new to the process, and the largest ever number of guests at the gala dinner.
Close to 100 organisations were represented last night, ranging from sole traders to major corporations employing thousands of staff, with the common denominator being that, whether they are large or small, they are absolutely determined to achieve the best possible standards and to move their operation forward confidently in these difficult times.
Cork-born entrepreneur Darragh McCarthy, founder of fast-growth financial services group FinTrU, delivered an inspiring address, focusing on how his business has created a talented workforce.
The evening, which was presided over by BBC presenter Karen Patterson and comedian Tim McGarry, included a number of musical interludes, featuring Thornhill College in Derry, recent winners of the BBC School Choir of the Year, and singer-songwriter Ryan McMullan, described by Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody as “the voice of an angel – one of the most exciting artists to come out of Northern Ireland”.
The Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards have been supported by eight key business partners – Carson McDowell, the Public Health Agency, Henderson Group, Queen’s University, Miller Hospitality, KPMG, Progressive Building Society and venue partner Titanic Belfast.
– A special 32-page supplement profiling all the winners and also capturing the social side of Thursday night’s event will be published in The Irish News on Tuesday June 25.
– Pictures from the awards will be available from lunchtime at www.irishnews.com/wea
