'A Night To Remember' is more than one member's account of the Awards Dinner! This social event has proven to be a huge success, with attendees already looking forward to the 2007 event.
In case you missed the background to this event, the UK IT Association hosted our first ever Awards Dinner at the Novotel Hotel in Birmingham on Friday 1st December. A reminder that 2006 has been a year of significant progress and that 2007 is set to deliver more and better business for members.
UKita members and their guests were joined at the Dinner by representatives from AWM (Advantage West Midlands), West Midlands Business Council and E-Skills to name a few.
The evening began with pre-dinner drinks courtesy of UKita Sponsors Oracle. Once seated, a short welcome from UKita CEO Bob Boyd was followed by a three course dinner served with a choice of red or white wine. After dinner, UKita Chairman Mike Sharpe addressed the audience and reminded everyone of the grass-roots beginnings of what is fast becoming the premier ICT SME membership organisation. Representatives of the original West Midlands based cluster groups were amongst the audience and they remain actively involved in the organisation at various levels.
Mike recalled “Each group eyed the others suspiciously, until realising that there was real value in working together, with commitment to quality and delivering solutions by working collaboratively”. He added “with the launch of UKita we now have a framework for growth which will provide more opportunities for our members, partners and sponsors”. Barry Williams of West Midlands Business Council was invited to speak and added to the sentiment of working together to the greater good before joining Mike to present the Awards.
The Awards for 2006 were presented by Mike Sharpe and Barry Williams to individuals within the original WMita (West Midlands IT Association) Branches. Photographs courtesy of Andrew Duggan Photography, Oxford.
The winners of ‘Best of Branch Award’ went to:
• Birmingham Branch – Phil Briggs of aXcess Ten Limited
• Black Country Branch – Bob Boyd of UKita
• Coventry Solihull & Warwickshire Branch – Flick Wheeler of Steeple Software Limited
• Herefordshire & Worcestershire Branch – Ian Pugh of CPG Associates Limited (Collected by Fred Noble on behalf of Ian Pugh)
• Shropshire Branch – Edward Bedell of Interpulse Limited
• Staffordshire Branch – Tony Bowers of West Midlands Mobile & Wireless
Mike Sharpe presented an additional Award in memory of Graham Wilson, former Company Secretary of the West Midlands IT Association. Mike paid tribute to Graham, who was tragically killed in an accident in December 2005.
The ‘Graham Wilson Memorial Award’ for outstanding contribution to the development of UKita went to: Flick Wheeler of Steeple Software Limited
The evening entertainment was provided by ten piece touring soul band ‘Back2Miami’ and was rounded off with dancing to music provided by the hotel’s resident DJ. For additional information about the event or any other information about UKita please contact UKita Central Office on 0121 506 9320 or e-mail [email protected].