Pictured: Temp of the Year Valerie Mackenzie with Brampton Recruitment Managing Director Claire Thomas

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

Newcastle-based Brampton, who supply temporary staff to hundreds of local businesses across North Staffordshire and South Cheshire each year, has judged 53-year-old Valerie Mackenzie as the winner of their innovative Temp of the Year Award. 

Valerie, of Newcastle, was nominated by her employers for the award after impressing them with her dedication and diligence.   

And she made such an impact on her bosses at a local distribution company that when a permanent job became available, she was first in line and they snapped her up.  

This is the fifth year that Brampton has run the competition - inviting all employers of their 100+ temps to nominate individuals who have gone beyond the call of duty in their daily work. 

Judith was presented with a specially commissioned Emma Bridgewater mug and £50 worth of vouchers by Brampton Recruitment's managing director Claire Thomas. 

Said Claire: "Any business owner will tell you that a good temp is worth their weight in gold - they're a vital resource and often bring a wealth of skills into a business. 

"The traditional image of a temp as a receptionist filling in for an absent member of staff is far from the true picture. Today, businesses use temps to cover many different business needs.  

"Often temps don't get the recognition they deserve - over the course of a year we supply temps to hundreds of local businesses, and feedback from employers tells us that they really value their knowledge and expertise. And, of course, the flexibility that temps provide is vital to many businesses today." 

The five finalists for the Temp of the Year, as nominated by their bosses, were: Valerie, Ginny Weckstein who works for a Chartered Surveyors; Hayley Hudson, who works for a local retailer; Geoff O Malley who works for a engineering company and Karen Riley who works in healthcare. 

In nominating Valerie for the award, her employers said: "Valerie was employed to cover a long-term absence in the buying department of a distribution company where she was supposed to fill in for 12 weeks.  We then asked her to move to telesales and she's since picked up reception duties too. She is always willing to help and grow to learn new skills. It was a pleasure to transfer her on to our books as she's a valuable employee."