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© Business Money Ltd 2006 |
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FDA Educational Foundation Awards Dinner Café Royal Piccadilly, London 23 February 2006 It is with great pleasure that I write this review because the FDA has, quite rightly, decided that the annual awards dinner should be an event in its own right and not incorporated into the main annual FDA gathering, where the achievements of award winners are, perhaps, not given quite the recognition that they deserve. The FDA courses and qualifications are vital to the longevity of the industry and those individuals who shine require acknowledgement. I was fortunate enough to have been in attendance at the first of the educational awards dinners in 2004 and even more fortunate, on both occasions, to enjoy the company of Nicola Breeze who, along with her colleagues, deserves mention for her part in what have both been excellent functions. Long may they continue. As attendees at FDA events have come to expect, the whole occasion simply oozed quality from start to finish and the guest list read rather like a who’s who in the receivables industry. The students’ names may not currently be as instantly recognisable as those of the MDs and CEOs but given time [and coverage – watch this space], they will be up there with the best of them. The FDA educational programmes nurture the stars of the future and any company or employee not embracing the concept of ongoing development should take careful note. I have said it before, in reference to the Turnaround Finance Dinner, that the more intimate functions are often some of the best because there is a real sense of belonging to the occasion. Some of the larger-scale functions are a little impersonal, and there is no real opportunity to network with those individuals that you so carefully pencil down on the napkin during the speeches, because of the sheer weight of numbers in attendance. This is no bad thing if you are there with the rest of your team, as you are spending an evening in each other’s company, but as a lone guest it is clearly one’s brief to circulate and a more exclusive event offers greater scope in achieving that end. The meal was truly delicious, as you would expect at the Café Royal, and the awards were all done in such a light-hearted fashion that I had to remind myself that I was there in a working capacity and not just to enjoy the company of friends. There was as much mirth and good humour throughout the course of the presentations as there was in the polished, professional routine from the face of BBC rugby, and host for the evening, John Inverdale. Firstly, James Rumsey earned himself a reprimand for dropping a massive 2% in his exam paper (what on earth was he thinking?) to win the Top Foundation Student Award. Secondly, Stuart Wallace raised a smile when he opted to go straight for the cheque, bypassing the formalities of the award itself, the handshake and the photograph. Thirdly, Lorraine Jervis’s monopolisation of the presentations gave further cause for amusement, as she scooped two awards, and the second award was such a formality that Andrew Watson didn’t even bother to keep any of the nominees in suspense and simply announced the winner (before apologising to the other hopefuls). Then came a fitting, and much deserved, tribute for one of the industry’s true pioneers, Ted Ettershank. Ted was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award and there cannot have been a person in the room who would have disputed the accolade. The award was presented to him by FDA chief executive, Kate Sharp, who, in return, received a quick waltz around the stage from a very pleased looking Ted, which brought the presentations to a close before John Inverdale’s speech. John explained, quite graphically, his absence from presenting the earlier of the Six Nations games this year. He had managed to get his head under a descending boot, whilst playing in a veterans rugby match, and the resulting injury required some reconstructive surgery to attach the skin to his forehead. I really miss playing that game. LA Tour provided live music for the rest of the evening, which was enthusiastically received by the guests. The photographer, Zac Macaulay, was on hand to capture the moments for posterity on memory stick and the images from the event can be viewed at: www.zacmacaulay.com/clients/FDA5263. My thanks to the FDA for a thoroughly enjoyable evening and congratulations to all the award winners. Information about the Educational Foundation and the 2006 course programme can be found on the FDA website: www.factors.org.uk. Ben Lefroy The Award Winners
Top Foundation
Student Award 2005
Top Certificate
Student Award 2005
Top Structure of
Accounts (Diploma) Student Award 2005
Top Asset-Based
Working Capital Finance (Diploma) Student Award
Top Residential Week
Student Award 2005
Top Diploma Student
Award 2005
Lecturer of the year
2005
Best Newcomer
Lecturer 2005
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