Fujitsu scoops award for innovation in career development

Fujitsu Services, one of Europe’s leading IT services companies, has won the Personnel Today Intellect Award for Innovation in Career Development in recognition of its Account Management Academy. In selecting Fujitsu for the award, the judges felt that the company has adopted a positive approach to career development for its people.

Fujitsu developed the Account Management Academy to assess its employees’ future potential, rather than analysing past performance alone, and develop those who are successful by quickly equipping them with the skills needed to perform well in an account management role. The Account Management Academy successfully developed 10 high potential candidates from the 287 who applied in 2004/5. It will be running the academy again in 2006.

Rachel Rose, people development manager at Fujitsu Services, commented: “We’re absolutely thrilled to win this award. I’m glad that we have received recognition for all our hard work. There has been a great deal of input from everyone in the organisation, a real team effort. It shows what can be achieved by HR working with the organisation and really adding value to the business.”

Fujitsu introduced the academy in 2004/5 as a way of ensuring that a continual high level of service was being given to customers. For this business critical role Fujitsu has now found, through the academy, a mechanism to identify and develop untapped talent from within the organisation.

The Personnel Today Awards 2005 were the most successful to date with a record number of entries. With 12 categories and a total of 51 organisations short-listed, the competition was fierce. Fujitsu’s award was judged by an independent expert on the following criteria: innovation and achievement, teamwork, leadership, effective use of resources and HR’s contribution to the business.