Finalists for the 2010 NORAs revealed

2010 marks the tenth anniversary of the National Online Recruitment Awards, for which HR Magazine are Media Partner. This year, almost 28,000 nominations were made, for 592 separate recruitment websites. Founder of the NORAs, and Chair of the judging panel, Stephen O’Donnell said, “We are proud to announce the most diverse shortlist of Finalists in the history of the NORAs. The standard this year, particular amongst UK employers, has greatly impressed, and shows a marked advancement in progressive and sophisticated recruitment methods via the Internet. This year we have a special award to mark our 10th anniversary. The “Recruitment Website of the Decade Award will recognise websites which have made the greatest contribution to online recruitment, from a candidate’s perspective.” This is a one-off award to celebrate the site that has consistently been pushing the boundaries for candidate experience over the past 10 years. Nominees will be made up of all finalists and winners of the NORA since 2001. The winner of this award will have demonstrated that they are a true leader in the field over time, and should be the site to watch for the coming decade.

The awards event itself, will be held on Thursday 4th November, in Covent Garden, London. Full details of the NORAs can be seen at www.NORAuk.com.

The Full list of Finalists for the National Online Recruitment Awards 2010 are:

Best Generalist Job Board

Jobsite (www.jobsite.co.uk)

Monster (www.monster.co.uk)

Reed (www.Reed.co.uk)

Totaljobs (www.totaljobs.co.uk)

Fish4Jobs (www.Fish4Jobs.co.uk)

 

Best Specialist (Niche) Job Board

British Medical Jobs (www.britishmedicaljobs.com)

Only Marketing Jobs (www.onlymarketingjobs.com)

Retail Choice (www.retailchoice.com)

Secs in the City (www.secsinthecity.com)

eFinancial Careers (www.eFinancialCareers.co.uk)

Totally Legal (www.totallylegal.com)

Executive on the Web (www.executivesontheweb.com)

Nurses (www.nurses.co.uk)

 

Best Regional Job Board

Graduates Yorkshire (www.graduatesyorkshire.co.uk)

NI Job Finder (www.nijobfinder.co.uk)

Key 103 Jobs (www.Key103jobs.co.uk)

Jobs in Wales (www.jobsinwales.com)

S1Jobs (www.s1jobs.com)

 

Best National Recruitment Agency

Reed (www.reed.co.uk)

Advanced Resource Managers (www.arm.co.uk)

Pulse (www.pulsejobs.com/uk)

Progressive Recruitment (www.progressiverecruitment.com)

Michael Page (www.michaelpage.co.uk)

 

Best Small Recruitment Agency Website

Orchard (www.orchard.co.uk)

Chase Zander (www.chasezander.com)

Maxim Recruitment (www.maximrecruitment.co.uk/)

McCarthy Recruitment (www.mccarthyrecruitment.com/)

Inspiring Interns (www.inspiringinterns.com)

Ambitions Personel (www.ambitions-personnel.com)

Idex Recruitment (www.idexrecruitment.com)

PFJ (www.pfj.co.uk)

 

Best Major Employer Website

Claire’s Accessories (www.clairescareers.co.uk)

Army Jobs (www.armyjobs.mod.uk)

LV (www.jobs.lv.com/)

Yorkshire Building Society (www.ybs.jobs)

T-Mobile (www.t-mobilecareers.co.uk)

 

Best Small Employer Website

Jagex (www.jagex.com/careers/)

Advance Resource Managers (www.arm.jobs/)

GCS Recruitment (http://join.gcsltd.com)

Chase Zander (www.chasezander.com/work-for-us/)

Innocent Drinks (www.innocentdrinks.co.uk/)

 

Best Online Recruitment by a Consumer Publication

The Scotsman (www.scotsman.com/jobs/)

Express and Star (http://jobs.expressandstar.com/)

The Guardian (http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/)

The Telegraph (http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/)

The Herald (www.heraldscotland.com/services/jobs/)

 

Best Online Recruitment by a Trade Publication

Retail Week (http://www.retail-week.com/careers)

Brand Republic (http://www.brandrepublic.com)

PR Week (http://www.prweekjobs.co.uk/)

Times Educational Supplement (http://www.tes.co.uk/)

Electronics Weekly (http://www.electronicsweekly.com/jobs/)

 

Best Employment Advice Website

My Work Search (www.myworksearch.co.uk)

Monster (http://career-advice.monster.co.uk/)

DWP Employment Index (http://direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/index.htm)

Career Player (http://www.careerplayer.com)

Guardian Careers (www.careers.guardian.co.uk)

 

Best Newcomer in Online Recruitment

CV See Me (www.cvseeme.co.uk)

Ambitions Personnel (www.ambitions-personnel.com)

CK Clinical (www.CKClinical.co.uk)

Food Industry Careers (www.foodindustrycareers.co.uk)

Inspiring Interns (www.inspiringinterns.com)

 

Best Innovation in Online Recruitment

OVIA (http://ovia.me/en)

CV See Me (www.cvseeme.co.uk)

Gatszu (www.gatszu.com)

TGI Friday FriDOiDS Blog (http://fridoids.co.uk/blog/)

Gala Coral Careers (http://galacoralcareers.com/)

 

Recruitment Website of the Decade

Jobsite (www.Jobsite.co.uk)

Reed (www.reed.co.uk)

MOD/ Army Jobs (www.armyjobs.mod.uk)

Totaljobs (www.totaljobs.co.uk)

S1 Jobs (www.s1jobs.com)

Monster (www.monster.co.uk/)

CV Library (www.cv-library.co.uk/)

Jobserve (www.jobserve.com)

Stephen O’Donnell, Director AlljobsUK.com (Chairman of Judging Panel)

Stephen@alljobsUK.com , 0141 5725301, 07801552149, www.linkedin.com/in/stephenodonnelluk

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SPECIAL AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE NORAS

To commemorate its tenth year, the National Online Recruitment Awards announces a unique special award for the “Recruitment Website of the Decade”.

Each year, since its inception, the National Online Recruitment Awards seeks to identify the very best examples of excellence in the recruitment sector. This is done by asking candidates themselves to nominate their favourite websites in each of the award categories, and to say why. There are 12 award categories, recognising job boards, publications, recruitment agencies and employers. The NORAs also recognises newcomers to the market and innovation in online recruitment. All of these awards are initially nominated by the public, and shortlisted by the NORAs panel of experts, from a candidate’s perspective. Only then will they have compiled the Finalists for each year’s NORAs.

This year the NORAs are making an exception. For the first time, and in celebration of the first 10 years of the NORAs, they will be presenting a very special award. The “Recruitment Website of the Decade” award will not be a nominated category, as all the contenders will be drawn from those sites who have already been nominated by candidates throughout the last ten years, and become Finalists and Winners for the NORAs. As the name suggests, this award will recognise those websites that have made the greatest contribution to online recruitment during the last ten years.

This year is the 10th anniversary of the awards. Stephen O’Donnell originally devised the NORAs in 2000, and held the first awards in 2001. Whilst ten years is a remarkable achievement in this sector, online recruitment has been a leading force in the development of the Internet since 1993, when Robbie Cowling founded JobServe. Since the year 2000, the NORAs has charted the birth and growth of many companies and websites which have become household names in the UK, including S1Jobs, Monster, Jobsite, CV-Library, Totaljobs, Reed, Telegraph Jobs, The Grocer and many, many more.

Stephen O’Donnell, Chairman of the NORAs said, “The NORAs are not your typical industry awards. From the beginning they have been all about the candidates; the jobseekers. We ask for public nominations because we are primarily focussed upon the benefi ts of online recruitment for each and every individual searching for jobs online. Last month we launched the nominations process for the tenth time. In the previous nine years of the NORAs, there have been 587 Finalists (over 220 unique), and 86 awards have been presented to 56 separate websites.”

He continued, “This year, we will also be considering each website’s presence on the mobile web, whether via a mobile website or iPhone/ Android application.”

The accolade “Recruitment Website of the Decade” can be achieved by only one website every ten years. This flagship award is sure to be much coveted, by those who aspire to such heights.

The Finalists for this, and all awards, will be announced on Tuesday 28th September, and the awards event itself will be on Thursday the 4th of November.

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Simple 1-Click Nomination For NATIONAL ONLINE RECRUITMENT AWARDS 2010

The National Online Recruitment Awards have now made the nomination process, for the tenth annual NORAs, simpler than ever before. Now even more candidates can easily participate in nominating their favourite websites.

In each of the past ten years, candidates have had to visit the awards website, www.NORAuk.com, and complete an online form, in order to nominate their preferred websites for these uniquely public-driven awards. The essential foundation of the NORAs is built upon nominations from jobseekers, and not votes, which be easily be manipulated online. Candidates are asked to nominate the recruitment websites they like best, in each of the 12 award categories, and give their reasons for doing so. This means that websites themselves do not have to register, or apply, to be considered. Each year, in addition, the NORAs have produced graphics for websites to display, in order to encourage their own visitors to nominate their site, and give reasons why. This has always proven to be very popular, but of course some sites don’t want to divert busy candidates from their job searching activities.

In response to this, the NORAs have now developed a unique “One-Click” nomination process. By registering online (http://www.norauk.com/nomination-material), webmasters can then select a suitable “Nominate this site” graphic, and then copy the unique HTML code to insert on their website. This then displays the chosen graphic where inserted, and enables candidates to nominate the site with a single click. Additionally, candidates are also given the opportunity to give direct, but anonymous, feedback, before continuing their pursuit of that ideal job.

In 2009 almost 25,000 nominations were received, for 657 separate recruitment websites. Stephen O’Donnell, Chair of the Judging Panel, said, “The greater the engagement we can encourage from individual job seekers, the greater depth of feedback we have to work with in selecting the Finalists for the awards. By considering in detail this candidate response, and assessing job sites from a candidate’s perspective, our panel of industry experts can arrive at a rich shortlist of sites, that best represent the very best internet recruitment services in the UK.”

“In less than 2 weeks, we have already had 50 websites register for ‘1-Click NORA Nomination’. More sites,
more nominations, and greater candidate involvement will further reinforce the credibility of the National
Online Recruitment Awards as it enters its second decade.”

Nominations will remain open until Friday 10th September, and the Winners will be revealed at the NORA’s
10th Anniversary Event on the 4th November.

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National Online Recruitment Awards 2010

Nominations have now opened for the National Online Recruitment Awards 2010 (NORAs). This marks the first full decade of the NORAs, which have closely plotted the emergence and growth of the UK online recruitment sector since 2000. Devised to recognise the very best recruitment websites, from a candidate’s perspective, the NORAs are respected as the defi nitive award in the industry, and a tangible achievement for those sites which truly excel in satisfying job seekers.

The 12 awards recognise dedicated job boards, recruitment agencies, employers, and publications which advertise vacancies online, over the past 12 months. The NORA’s also seeks to recognise the best employment advice websites, best newcomer, and the best innovation in online recruitment. This last award will surely be hotly contended, with the emergence of recruitment channels via social media, including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and many others. Mobile applications and websites will also be taken into account.

Nominations are open to anyone to contribute, and will be open until 10th September, via www.NORAuk.com. In 2009, there were over 24,000 nominations for 654 separate websites. The judging panel this year includes Luke McKend, Head of Classifi eds at Google, Matt Alder, former Head of Digital for Penna Barkers, Helen Reynolds, HB RIDA and former Chief Executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, and Dan McGuire MD of Broadbean Technology.

Stephen O’Donnell, Chairman of the Judging Panel says “Given the innovative responses to dramatic changes in the employment landscape in the UK, it will be fascinating to see which sites are serving candidates best. In the past year we can really see that the online recruitment industry is embracing many new media channels to deliver a promise of smarter, effective and effi cient candidate experience. Never before has this industry been quite so focussed on the needs of each individual candidate.”

Stephen O’Donnell, Director AlljobsUK.com (Chairman of Judging Panel)

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NATIONAL ONLINE RECRUITMENT AWARDS 2009 – RESULTS

The results of the National Online Recruitment Awards 2009 have been announced. Held in association with Perms Connect, this was the ninth annual NORAs, which aims to recognise the very best recruitment websites in the UK from a candidate user’s perspective.

This year almost 25,000 nominations were made from jobseekers for 654 websites. These nominations included feedback from the job-seeking candidates on why they prefer these websites. Aided by a panel of industry expert judges* the number of sites were reduced to a shortlist of 66 Finalists in twelve award categories. These Finalists websites were then stringently assessed from a candidate users point of view to arrive at the winners.

The awards process began in July and finally culminated in the NORAs event, held in the exclusive Orchid London venue, in Piccadilly last Thursday night (5th Nov). In total, the event hosted over 300 professionals all involved in the recruitment and online recruitment technology and advertising industry, eager to find out which sites would triumph.

Stephen O’Donnell, of AlljobsUK.com and 1Job.co.uk, who originally conceived and devised the awards in 2000 and who heads up the event, said: “To the Finalists, I want to offer my sincere congratulations. Given the extremely competitive nature of this sector, and the profile of the UK recruitment at the moment, it’s a real achievement to be considered one of the best in the country. I believe the shortlist of award Finalists represents the very best in online recruitment in the UK today. By throwing a spotlight on the very best, these awards aim to encourage continuous improvement by all of us particularly for the candidate users of our sites.”

Julian Felstead M.D. of 1Job.co.uk added: “Those who run recruitment websites, work daily to try and meet the needs of not only candidates, but also of those who are recruiting. The past year has seen a seismic shift in the balance between the two, and there are now far greater numbers of candidates pursuing at least 45% fewer advertised jobs. This presents us all with new challenges, and requires us all to continually look to improve our websites and systems. The speed of change is not slowing in the online recruitment sector, and the cost of failure is high. However, what we have here, in the shape of the NORA finalists and winners, are those that have excelled in catering for candidates.”

The NORAs are organised and run by AlljobsUK.com and 1Job.co.uk. Both of these websites are in the business of delivering jobseekers directly to where the vacancies are advertised on the most popular recruitment websites in the UK.

The winners of the National Online Recruitment Awards 2009 are:
1. Best General Jobsite – http://www.jobsite.co.uk/
2. Best Specialist (Niche) Jobsite – http://www.retailchoice.com/
3. Best Regional Jobsite – http://www.key103jobs.co.uk/
4. Best National Recruitment Agency Website – http://www.rhr.co.uk/
5. Best Small Recruitment Agency Website – http://www.mccarthyrecruitment.com/
6. Best National Employer’s Website – http://www.armyjobs.mod.uk/
7. Best Small Employer’s Website – http://www.join.gcsltd.com/
8. Best Online Recruitment by a Consumer Publication – http://www.jobs.guardian.co.uk/
9. Best Online Recruitment by a Trade Publication – http://www.drapersjobs.com/
10. Best Employment Advice Website – http://www.careerplayer.com/
11. Best Newcomer in Online Recruitment – http://www.careerplayer.com/
12. Best Innovation in Online Recruitment – http://www.twitterjobsearch.com/

* Judging and Selection Panel:
Emma Mirrington – BSkyB
Luke McKend – Google
Helen Reynolds – HB RIDA
Jim Tanfield – Recruitment Consultant Magazine
Louise Triance – UK Recruiter
Dan McGuire – Broadbean Technology
Tom Atkinson – Perms Connect
Stephen O’Donnell – AlljobsUK.com
Andy Headworth – Sirona Consulting
Alan Whitford – Abtech Partnership
Matt Alder – Penna Barkers
Alex Hens – 3D Marcomms
Steve Evans – Media Figures
Paul Harrison – Carve Consulting
Ben Nunn – Thirty Three

More details about the NORAs can be found at http://www.norauk.com/

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Notes for editors

AlljobsUK.com and 1Job.co.uk jointly host and organise the NORAs, which were conceived and devised by Stephen O’Donnell nine years ago in 2000.

Online Recruitment now accounts for 73% of all recruitment advertising in the UK.

Perms Connect are the Main Sponsors of the awards. Perms Connect provide a service to recruitment agencies, whereby agencies can share revenues from joint recruitment activities.

For more information contact Stephen O’Donnell, Chair of the awards:
Stephen@NORAuk.com 0141 572 5301 07801 552149

Graphics, images, and photos of the awards event can be supplied upon request.

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Announcement of the Finalists for this year’s NORAs 2009

We are extremely proud to announce the Finalists for this year’s National Online Recruitment awards. Now in our ninth year, the NORAs have become established as the standard by which all recruitment websites are measured. Uniquely, the awards are initially nominated by job seekers themselves, in order that the perspective of those who utilise each site remains paramount. This year we received almost 25,000 nominations for 654 separate websites.

Our selection panel of industry experts (see below) then carefully assessed each site, from a candidate’s point of view, to arrive at the shortlist of tremendous sites in all 12 categories. Our categories recognise all manner of recruitment websites, including not only dedicated job boards, but also recruitment firms, publications, advice websites and employers themselves. We will also present awards for Best Newcomer, and Best Innovation in Online Recruitment.

To ensure absolute integrity, our Finalist will now be judged by a separate panel of Judges, and the Winners will be revealed at our awards event, in London, on Thursday the 5th of November.
Our Selection Panel of industry experts.

1. Stephen O’Donnell – AlljobsUK.com – http://www.alljobsuk.com/
2. Andy Headworth – Sirona Consulting – http://www.sironaconsulting.com/
3. Alan Whitford – rceuro.com – http://www.rceuro.com/
4. Matt Alder – Barkers – http://www.recruitingfuture.com/
5. Steve Evans – Net Natives – http://www.netnatives.co.uk/
6. Paul Harrison – Carve Consulting – http://www.carveconsulting.com/wp/
7. Ben Nunn – Thirty Three – http://www.thirtythree.co.uk/
8. Alex Hens – 3D Marcomms – http://www.3dmarcomms.com/

Please find attached the complete list of Finalists, which can also be found at http://www.norauk.com/nominate/finalists

For further information, please contact Stephen O’Donnel, Chair of Judging Panel, on 0141 572 5301, or Stephen@norauk.com

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NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHED FOR THE NATIONAL ONLINE RECRUITMENT AWARDS – www.NORAuk.com

Now in their ninth year, the National Online Recruitment Awards has become an annual fixture in this burgeoning industry. Launched in 2001, as an integral part of AlljobsUK.com, the awards have been the answer to candidates questioning “Which are the best recruitment websites in the UK?”

As we begin the nomination process for this year’s NORAs, leading to our awards event on 5th November, it was felt that a dedicated website, showcasing not only current contenders, but also previous Finalists and winners, was long overdue. Still backed by AlljobsUK.com and 1Job.co.uk, the NORAs are a strong recognisable brand in their own right, and as such, require their own space.

The NORAuk.com website is deliberately setup as a showcase site, where we are able to present and celebrate the very best examples of online recruitment, from a candidate’s perspective. With regular articles and features, as well as awards related news, we hope that we can not only reflect the preferences of job seekers, but also the continual flow of new developments in the online recruitment sector.

This year, we expect the feedback, alongside nominations, to be even more enlightening than in 2008, when we received almost 64,000 nominations. As a candidate focused event, we invite nominations from job seekers themselves. The final assessments by our expert judging panel are made from that perspective also. It is essential that our awards are relevant to those who use and rely upon recruitment websites on a daily basis, and not simply an industry back-slapping exercise. This goes to the core of the credibility the NORAs have sought to maintain.

“In such a fast changing, and very young industry, the NORAs now have a depth of history, which charts the evolution of a vital and responsive sector that is now embedded in everyday working life. The new NORAuk.com website gives us the platform to continue that work into our second decade.”

Stephen O’Donnell, Founder of the NORA’s and Chair of the judging panel.
Stephen@NORAuk.com
0141 572 5301

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