Following the huge success of last year’s first Bristol Evening Post Awards, I am delighted that AXA is once again supporting this event as the main sponsor.

Whilst AXA has recently been awarded a place on the Sunday Times Top 20 Best Big companies to work for in the UK, we know that our strong focus on our employees must be matched by an equal focus on our customers. That means keeping them central to everything we do, treating them with respect, demonstrating that we care and taking every opportunity to prove our competence and reliability – all key aspects of our company ethos.

Being the 15th largest company* in the world and employing approximately 170,000 people across the world, we believe strongly in thinking globally and acting locally. We regard our support at this event as an important way for us to keep close to our local market in the UK and especially in the South West.

It is also vital that companies in this area work closely together to ensure that candidates are attracted to our region – and that they bring with them the experience, talent and skills we need to enhance the quality of all our workforces.

Healthy competition never hurt anyone, and it’s great to see so many Resourcing teams developing new, innovative and commercial ways to source new employees. This event is a fantastic opportunity to learn from colleagues, peers and leaders in our field. I hope everyone takes some new ideas away with them to inspire and generate clear market leading recruitment strategies appropriate to their own company needs.

* Source:  Fortune Global 500 July 2007 (www.fortune.com).