The RCSA Awards!

The glitziest and most glamorous night in the recruitment calendar is here! The RCSA awards. Yours truly is dusting off a penguin suit to have a front-row seat for tonight’s gala and I’m very excited. It’s our industry’s Oscars, making The Seek Awards look like the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards by comparison. Island Recruitment is still very much in its infancy but not without traditions, as this bi-weekly blog exemplifies. One tradition I’m keen to continue is taking a stab at the potential winners and giving all the finalists one final shout-out before they are forever forgotten.

Excellence in Business Innovation

Nominees – Leedsafe, OneScope, Robert Walters

Predicted Winner – OneScope

I’m going for OneScope. Different agencies working together harmoniously purely focused on outcomes, it’s pretty unheard of. Leedsafe is sponsoring one of the other categories, I’d hate for the event to be marred with any corruption allegations. You don’t usually associate innovation with global recruitment juggernauts. Plus, OneScope is the only one with a tab that says “innovation” on their website.

Excellence in Candidate Care

Nominees – AWF, Frog Recruitment, Salt

Predicted Winner – Frog Recruitment

This is a tough one as I’m certain all the finalists do right by their candidates. I’ve taken the easy way out and fallen back on Google Reviews. Salt has a higher rating with a 4.8 over Frog’s 4.6 however, Frog has 74 reviews, and Salt has 13. I couldn’t find AWFs. I did go on their website and their Work Stories are great! Unfortunately, they’re from five years ago.

Excellence in Client Service

Nominees – Sourced IT, Frog Recruitment, Salt

Predicted Winner – Salt

Again, the finalist wouldn’t be in this category if they weren’t satisfying client requirements. As for who is going above and beyond? You’d need to ask their clients but as Salt were bridesmaids last time out, in the interest of fairness I’m going for them.

Excellence in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

Nominees – Accordant, Potentia, Student Job Search

Predicted Winner – Accordant

Although Potentia are doing great things with its Taitamariki Potentia brand. I’m going to go with Accordant. That’s a pretty diverse range of agencies under the umbrella and one’s with great reputations for looking after their people.

Excellence in Social Purpose

Nominees – Accordant, Õtorohanga Employment Hub, Robert Walters

Predicted Winner – Õtorohanga Employment Hub

You’d absolutely love to see it. Smaller agencies at the heart of communities play a crucial role in development. Knowing very little about their brand you can bet that they aren’t the transactional types. Got to go with the underdogs here!

Excellence in Safety & Wellbeing Culture – Sponsored by Leedsafe

Nominees – Advanced Personnel Services Ltd & Remarkable People

Predicted Winner – Advanced Personnel Services

From my research, it looks like this is the 4th consecutive year APS have been finalists. There’s no mention of them winning it on their socials or website so surely, they have to get it. A little unfair on Remarkable as they do incredible work and provide so much for their staff and contractors.

Recruitment Professional 2023 – Sponsored by SEEK

Nominees – Laura Douglas, Jordan Eades, Vanessa Powell

Predicted Winner – Laura Douglas

Congrats to all three of the finalists! Laura and Vanessa have similar tenures with impressive progression at top agencies. I’m leaning more towards LD, I’ve got a soft spot for the Scottish, and she’s the only one I’ve had a bevy with.

Rising Star 2023 – Sponsored by Abbott Group

Nominees - Georgia Barr, Luke Downey, Sergio Orellana

Predicted Winner – Luke Downey

One of the nominees has risen out of the agency he was working in so they’re out. In keeping with the theme of the award, Luke seems the right pick. Georgia is an accomplished recruiter and an AD at an awesome agency. Plus, Auckland can’t win everything.

Industry Leader 2023

Nominees – Lisa Cooley & Erin Woods

Predicted Winner – Lisa Cooley.

I recently had the opportunity to chat with Erin, she’s authentic, driven, genuine, with a good sense of humour. All the things you want in a leader. The only problem, she's against Lisa Cooley; one of the best recruiters and leaders I’ve had the pleasure of partnering with in my career as a rec-to-rec.

*Final stretch, come on we can do this!

Outstanding Agency - Up to 5 Staff

Nominees – CoLegal Recruitment, Digital Garage, Rothley Partners

Predicted Winner – Digital Garage.

The Digital Garage guys have let me sit at their table; I know which side my bread’s buttered.

Outstanding Agency - Up to 15 Staff

Nominees – BrightSpark, Grada Recruitment, Recruitment Studio

Predicted Winner – Grada Recruitment

All amazing agencies as the category suggests. I’ve gone with Grada, they have a consultant up for an individual award, they’ve been going the longest, at they’ve got the highest headcount. I don’t know what the metrics are, but it feels like that might come into it.

Outstanding Agency - Up to 40 Staff – Sponsored by JobAdder

Nominees – Frog Recruitment, Hunter Campbell, Potentia

Predicted Winner – Hunter Campbell

I think what HC has done is impressive, growing to its size in a sustainable way shows what can be accomplished with strong leadership and a clearly defined culture. The majority of those incoming arrivals have joined from within the market too.

Outstanding Agency - Over 40 Staff

Nominees – Medrecruit Ltd, Remarkable People, Robert Walters

Predicted Winner – Robert Walters

I feel I’ve given them an unfair shake just because they’re the big guys. This category is for the big guys and with the recent hires they’ve made in their leadership team, I think they deserve an accolade or two.

Once again, well done to all the finalists! It’s a big deal to even get nominated. Have a go at picking your winners. I’m just a guy with a blog to write with no idea how these things are judged. 😊