Kent County Council's recruitment division has scooped a top national award.

Connect2Kent was judged to be the UK’s best public/third sector recruitment agency in the annual Recruiter magazine awards - the biggest award event in the recruitment sector.

Staff were presented with the trophy at a gala event, hosted by comedian Milton Jones, at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane.

Judges said: "Connect2Kent provides a master vendor recruitment managed service for the council for all categories of temporary, interim and contract positions.

“Increasing demand from other public, third and private organisations have led it to operate an external trading business, Connect2staff.

“An example of the company’s expertise contributing to clients’ success is its work connected with resettling Syrian refugees in Kent, where it swiftly mobilised an interpreting and translation business to source qualified agency translators, ensuring families were fully supported from arrival through to full integration into the UK.”

Connect2Kent is part of KCC’s Commercial Services division.

Helen Lock, director for KCC’s recruitment division, said: “It is important to have had our specialist and flexible solutions, to the public and third sector recognised.

“Each week, we continue to support more clients and candidates through a testing period of cuts, talent shortages and transformation, in some of the most challenging professions.

“Over the next few years, we look forward to sharing our learnings with other local authorities. Through collaboration, setting up a council-owned recruitment business is no longer out of reach, and should very much be a viable option for all public sector bodies which have a managed service provision.”