The winning agency must demonstrate financial stability, business innovation, a clearly defined business model for the next two years and significant insight into its respective recruitment sector.

Agencies entering this category must also demonstrate outstanding service to client and candidate.

Entrants must have commenced trading no earlier than January 2010.

This category recognises agencies that have added a successful new dimension to the recruitment sector, or continually seek to ‘think outside the box’ and so contribute to the success of a recruitment programme.

The winning agency will be in touch with the evolving recruitment industry and be able to demonstrate measurable success in line with this.

Today's recruitment climate demands engagement and visibility.

This category recognises agencies that have produced a website synergetic not only to its own brand but to the industry, also.

Entrants to this category will demonstrate a website that is functional, dynamic, interactive and productive.

This category is for recruitment agencies that specialise in one key component of the full marketing mix.

Specialist disciplines might include: PR; social media; digital; technical marketing; events; agency/client-side etc.

Specialist sectors might include: retail; finance; FMCG; healthcare etc.

Agencies entering this category must be prevalent in no more than one niche area.

Entrants to this category will specialise in supplying marketing, communications & advertising professionals within one the following defined geographical regions:

South East; South West; North East; North West; Yorkshire & Humber; East Midlands; West Midlands; East Anglia; London; Scotland; Wales; Ireland. 

Open to recruitment agencies within which one team (or the agency as a whole) specialises in providing contract/temporary/freelance marketing, communications, advertising and/or design professionals.

This award recognises the different challenges associated with contract recruitment and the demands imposed on those involved in it.

The winner of this category continues to display exceptional candidate service, and will have particularly excelled at this within the past twelve months.

Not only must the agency demonstrate that it provides candidates with outstanding basic care (such as interviewing each candidate and ensuring they are put forward only for appropriate roles etc) the agency must also show it adds outstanding value to its work with candidates and how it contributes their candidates’ career success.

This Award really is ‘one for the people’ since judges will look at nominee comments as part of the selection criteria.

Entrants of this award must provide evidence of exceptional client service, most notably within the past twelve months.

Finalists will be expected to provide evidence of financial stability; exceptional insight into the marketing sector; understanding of clients, their cultures, current and strategic goals, staffing requirements and how the clients fit into the marketplace.

The winning agency will demonstrate how it adds outstanding value to client partnerships.

This category recognises the efforts of the smaller recruitment agencies, those often unable compete with the financial might of their competitors.

Entrants will be expected to demonstrate definitive case studies highlighting how they have overcome significant challenges in the wake of larger competition; how they have managed recent industry challenges; and how they have continued delivery of excellence for candidates and clients.

Entrants to this category must have no more than 5 permanent employees.

This category recognises the efforts of the medium recruitment agencies during the past twelve months.

Managing business growth can be challenging, with the gap between 'boutique' and 'conglomerate' a steep one. Much of the good work within marketing recruitment is undertaken by medium-sized agencies that consistently deliver outstanding services to candidates and clients.

Entrants to this category must have between 6 and 15 permanent employees.

This category recognises the efforts of the large recruitment agencies within the past twelve months.

Often supported by augmented infrastructure and driven by sustainable business and financial models, larger agencies are positioned for increased market penetration.

How agencies make the most of their size is what matters most.

Entrants to this category will have more than 15 permanent employees.

The emergence of social media in recruitment is undisputed. Most recruitment agencies have now implemented ‘social recruiting’ as part of their talent-attraction strategy.

Entrants to this category must show demonstrable evidence of a social media strategy that provides tangible results for candidates and/or clients, supported by a case study and/or business model, which might include: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and other social media channels.

Entrants to this category will be recognised for providing outstanding contribution to the UK marketing recruitment industry during the past twelve months.

Perhaps the consultant has gone above the call of duty, exceeded targets or shown thought-leadership amongst peers.

Individuals may enter themselves for this category or be nominated by peers. In each case citation must be made to the achievements.

The winner of this category will be determined by public nomination and the judging panel, based on nomination feedback and peer citation.

Entrants to this category will be recognised for providing outstanding contribution to the UK marketing recruitment industry during the past twelve months, most notably excellent management and leadership ability to their respective agency.

Individuals may enter themselves for this category or be nominated by peers. In each case citation must be made to the achievements.

The winner of this category will be determined entirely by peer citation and evidence of outstanding managerial competence.

This award recognises the overall achievements of marketing recruitment agencies, during the past twelve months.

The winner of this award will have consistently displayed extraordinary excellence across all categories, with particular focus on candidate and client experience.

This is not about bottom-line profits. It’s about top-line performance. T

he winner of this category will be determined by public nomination and the judging panel, based on nomination feedback. Supporting evidence by way of candidate and client testimonials will be required and you should make clear citation to the extra special achievements you feel your company has accomplished.