Utilize is on the lookout for unsung IT heroes, the first line support staff that keeps your systems ticking over and the techies who have made special contributions to your IT projects.

"We are sponsoring a brand new category at this year's Thames Gateway Business Awards entitled 'IT Person of the Year', which aims to celebrate the efforts of outstanding IT staff in the London area. Entrants can nominate themselves or be nominated by a colleague but all applications must be received before 3rd October 2008," said Stuart Chaplin, Marketing Consultant at Utilize.

He explained that the award is designed to recognise the impact of an individual on your organisation's IT systems and the judgement criteria are purposely wide to encompass a broad range of IT personnel. Chaplin added: "The winner could be an engineer who has single-handedly deployed a new solution or an IT coordinator that provides excellent liaison with external suppliers and service providers."

The awards ceremony, held at the London ExCeL International Exhibition and Conference Centre, in Docklands, will be the climax of this year's search for outstanding achievers. Finalists in the 16 categories will be eligible to use the awards logos on their company stationery and the outright winners will have an impressive trophy to display as a testimony to their achievement.