Pictured above:  Temp of the Year Judith Parr (centre) receives her prize from Brampton Recruitment's Claire Thomas (right) and the person who nominated Judith, Linda Morris

The unsung heroes of the workplace - temps - have been recognised with awards from leading local consultancy Brampton Recruitment.

Newcastle-based Brampton, who specialise in placing temps with businesses across North Staffordshire and South Cheshire, has judged 50-year-old Judith Parr as the winner of their innovative Temp of the Year Award.

Judith, of Tunstall, was nominated by her new employers for the award after impressing them with her work ethic and dedication to the job.  She was made redundant in 2009 after 14 years as a receptionist with Northcliffe Media. 

She approached Brampton just over a year ago and started work on January 4th on a three month temping contract. Immediately recognising her commitment and dedication to her job, her employers offered Judith a permanent position as an administrator - and she's never looked back.

Said Judith: "Being made redundant really knocked my confidence and walking through the doors of Brampton was the best thing I ever did.  I've never won anything before, so winning this was the icing on the cake for me."

Judith was presented with a specially commissioned Emma Bridgewater mug and a £100 worth of vouchers.

In nominating her Judith's employer said: "Nothing that I have asked Judith to do has been too much trouble….to say that Judith has gone the extra mile since she walked through the door in Jan 2010 is an understatement."

Added director of Brampton Recruitment, Claire Thomas: "We know that temps are highly dedicated people who often don't get the recognition they deserve. The reality is that they play a very important part in the success of local businesses in just the same way that permanent staff do.

"We have more than fifty temps on our books and employers tell us that they are vital to their businesses - and mean they have the flexibility to employ people with the right skills when the business dictates.

"This is the fourth year that we've run the Temp of the Year awards in conjunction with local employers and Judith is a very worthy winner.

"All temps placed in local companies are eligible to enter the award and every three months we send an email to employers encouraging them to nominate any temps who they feel have gone above and beyond the call of duty."

Finalists for the Temp of the Year award were: Gemma Brown, Daniel Dyche, Claire Astbury, Liz Bickerstaffs, Katie Yeandle and winner Judith Parr.