A recruitment consultant from Southampton picked up the major prize at a glittering awards ceremony.

Krissy Highmore of Berry Recruitment visited more clients last year than anyone else in the group that employs more than 200 people.

She received her Most Clients Visited award from Tony Berry – the former head of Manpower and Blue Arrow – and chairman of Berry Recruitment Group (BRG).

Max Perceau who works at the Southampton Construction branch also received recognition and won a Star Award.

The event was held on International Women’s Day at the Kimpton Fitzroy Hotel in London – on the site where famed suffragette Emmeline Pankhust once lived.

BRG has recently announced that its turnover last year rose to a touch under £70m, and it has started 2019 ahead of its targets.

Managing director Chris Chown said: “In an age when social media and emails dominate our lives, there is still no replacement for meeting people face to face.

“Krissy has put in the hours – and the miles – and made the effort to go and meet clients.

“It is something people appreciate and for Krissy to come top of such a competitive category means she very much deserves the award.”

BRG, headquartered in St Albans, Herts, has three brands; Berry Recruitment, Wild Recruitment and Wild Berry Associates.

It has made two acquisitions since last autumn and continues to grow organically.