Accenture : Bob Paton Recognized in New Year Honors List for Contribution to IT Skills and Apprenticeships

Accenture's Bob Paton Recognized in New Year Honors List for Contribution to IT Skills and Apprenticeships

London; Dec. 30, 2015 - Bob Paton, Accenture (NYSE: ACN) managing director for its Newcastle Delivery Centre, has been awarded a CBE in the Queen's 2016 New Year Honors list for his achievements and contribution to IT Skills and Apprenticeships in the north east. Mr Paton joined Accenture in 1992 and since 2010 has overseen the successful launch and growth of its Newcastle Delivery Centre, which provides technology solutions to clients, and where the number of employees has increased to 650. As part of this expansion, Accenture launched its North East Apprenticeship Program which combines structured IT training with on-the-job learning. Apprentices who complete the Program receive a foundation degree and the chance to work at Accenture. Mr Paton who will receive Commander of the Order of the British Empire said: 'I'm extremely proud and humbled to receive this honor for the north east. This award recognizes the contribution of so many other people across the region. They have worked tirelessly to promote the IT skills agenda and they share my vision of building a world class technology workforce in the north east through initiatives such as Dynamo, a non-profit that aims to set up code clubs in every primary school in the north east. I would like also to thank the exceptional support I have received from Accenture that has allowed me to get so involved in driving the IT skills agenda in the region.' Accenture's UK and Ireland country managing director Olly Benzecry said: 'It is fantastic to see that the superb work carried out by Bob to promote the IT skills agenda and apprenticeships has been recognized in this richly deserved national honour. Bob's tireless campaigning in the north east is making a real difference to the lives of young people in the region. He is an inspiration and we are delighted to share in this wonderful news.' Mr Paton is a founder and board member of Dynamo. He also serves as chair of Studio West, a pioneering new school for 13 to 19-year-olds which has close links to the North East business community with a curriculum that includes real-world business experience. Mr Paton is also on the Board of Governors at the University of Sunderland, and has recently joined the Board of Governors at Northumberland College and South Tyneside Career College. He is also Chair of the Project Steering Group for the recently approved IT and Health Care Sciences University Technical College which is due to open in Newcastle in September 2017. Mr Paton has been at the forefront of the Accenture Apprenticeship Program and is a leading advocate of hiring more apprentices in the north east IT sector. He helped create the Dynamo North East Apprenticeship Hub which supports small businesses through each major step of setting up and running an apprenticeship program, from advertising and recruitment to training and assessment, and putting in place a framework to make it easier for small IT businesses to take on apprentices. Mr Paton is serving as a National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) ambassador for the North East.
About Accenture Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions - underpinned by the world's largest delivery network - Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With approximately 373,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

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