THE chief sales officer of Worcester technology company PCA Predict has won a 2016 Women in IT Award.

Emma Stone's triumph in the editor’s choice category, gives special recognition to a woman who has achieved something exceptional in the IT industry. Mrs Stone was also commended for demonstrating strong leadership and delivering an ambitious growth strategy which is on target to be fulfilled.

Devised by technology magazine Information Age, the Women in IT Awards is a celebration of diversity, inclusion, leadership and IT excellence. The event showcases the achievements and innovation of women in technology, identifying new role models who are really making a difference to an industry that has been traditionally male dominated.

Mrs Stone said: "I don’t think our industry is any less male boardroom heavy than a lot of other sectors. For example it’s well documented that the UK’s most prominent companies have men at the helm. For me personally I could not be as successful and committed to PCA Predict without the support of my husband and my male and female colleagues.

“My husband Neil was quite willing to take a back seat with his career so I could pursue mine. Things like picking up the children from school and attending parents’ evening can be quite difficult to commit to as I never know when I might called away unexpectedly to attend an important meeting in London or even New York.

“At PCA Predict we have introduced flexible working patterns which I feel will not only benefit individual employees but I think certain advantages will be gained by the company too. For example our core hours telephone cover which includes sales, customer service and technical support will be extended, so it’s a ’win-win’ situation all round.

"I believe that gender disparity is not a fight for female domination, but more to do with women and men supporting each other both at home and in the workplace."