UTV Business Eye Employer of the Year
26 October 2009
The 1,000 strong workforce at Northgate Managed Services is celebrating after the company was awarded the UTV Business Eye ‘Employer of the Year’.
Northgate beat off stiff competition in what was widely regarded as one of the most tightly-fought categories, which recognised companies that have developed innovative approaches to managing, measuring and rewarding their employees. The company was also one of three finalists in the 'Company of the Year' category.
IIP-accredited Northgate, which provides IT managed services and infrastructure services to both public and private sector organisations, has demonstrated its resilience throughout the global economic downturn, recently winning over £100 million of new contracts, doubling their order book and committing to use Northern Ireland as a near-shore delivery centre, exporting skills and expertise across the whole of the UK and Ireland.
“Northgate have implemented strategies that has led to business success in spite of recession and have committed to protecting jobs and have continued to invest in their people” said Richard Buckley, editor of Business Eye, on behalf of the judging panel.
“Northgate proved that monitoring and measuring employee satisfaction has been vital to enhancing staff commitment and effort. Through the ongoing investment in skills, internal communications, increasing graduate entry opportunities, and the introduction of an IT Apprenticeship Scheme for school leavers, the company has proved that its people are a top priority.”
Other highlights of Northgate’s employment initiatives included its flexible benefits package and an awards scheme which recognises exceptional individual work or achievement.
With a strong CSR programme in place, Northgate also encourages the personal development of its employees, with 10% of its workforce volunteering for a range of community-based schemes and initiatives.
Reflecting on the company’s success, Andy Ross, Chief Executive of Northgate Managed Services said:
“This success shows that we are now very much the leading IT services company in Northern Ireland, and it is especially pleasing that we have been recognised for being successful during the toughest trading conditions for a long time. We have continued to deliver value for money to clients, particularly helping customers reduce costs and improve efficiencies, and with the backing from our owners, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR), we have been able to strengthen our position in the market.
We continue to be committed to Northern Ireland as a Centre of Excellence and our recent successes are testament to our ability to compete and win, in particular against strong off-shore competition, proving that Northern Ireland can be a credible and viable near-shore alternative.
The quality and dedication of the staff in our business are what makes us different and much of our success is due to the efforts of our workforce – so it is particularly fitting that the awards recognise that Northgate Managed Services really is a great place to work. This is a fantastic accolade for our company, our policies and our people”
Pictured above, left to right Hugh Donnelly, Haed of Regions (North) Bank of Scotland (Ireland), Andy Ross, Chief Executive Northgate Managed Services, Brenda Buckley, Business Eye and Michael Wilson, Managing Director of UTV.
