Rising Stars Awards 2019: Here's our gallery of winners

All the top photos from the first-ever awards for new starters in tech

This week Computing held the first-ever Rising Stars Awards: an event dedicated to celebrating the achievements of new entrants to the technology sector. Attendees and judges agreed that recognising the success of new starters is important - and the quality of entries shows that the worst thing the industry could do is to ignore someone based on their experience.

Held at the hidden Proud Embankment underneath Waterloo Bridge, the night featured entertainment from Rhys James, a charismatic young comedian who has appeared on Mock the Week and Russell Howard's Stand Up Central; post-awards acrobatics above guests' heads; and, of course, lavish (and meat-free) food and drink.

Guests began arriving just after 18:00.

Rising Stars Awards 2019: Here's our gallery of winners

All the top photos from the first-ever awards for new starters in tech

Everyone took the opportunity to mingle with their peers - and have a professional photograph.

Rising Stars Awards 2019: Here's our gallery of winners

All the top photos from the first-ever awards for new starters in tech

The guests were looking their best.

Rising Stars Awards 2019: Here's our gallery of winners

All the top photos from the first-ever awards for new starters in tech

The venue's layout, with its cubby holes and balconies, added a touch of vintage flair.

Rising Stars Awards 2019: Here's our gallery of winners

All the top photos from the first-ever awards for new starters in tech

Rhys James took to the stage after dinner, joking about agile workflows and congratulating Royal Mail on managing to find the right venue...

Rising Stars Awards 2019: Here's our gallery of winners

All the top photos from the first-ever awards for new starters in tech

...which the audience (even Royal Mail) appreciated.

Rising Stars Awards 2019: Here's our gallery of winners

All the top photos from the first-ever awards for new starters in tech

Finally, it was time to announce the winners.

We began with Analyst of the Year, which Luis Khamashta from The Telegraph took home.

Rising Stars Awards 2019: Here's our gallery of winners

All the top photos from the first-ever awards for new starters in tech

Carmel Eve from Endjin won Apprentice Engineer of the Year.

Rising Stars Awards 2019: Here's our gallery of winners

All the top photos from the first-ever awards for new starters in tech

Our Apprentice of the Year was Connor Hay from Leidos.

Rising Stars Awards 2019: Here's our gallery of winners

All the top photos from the first-ever awards for new starters in tech

The Cloud Apprentice of the Year was Ed Freeman, also from Endjin. A successful night for the team!

Rising Stars Awards 2019: Here's our gallery of winners

All the top photos from the first-ever awards for new starters in tech

Johnny Ooi took The Telegraph's second award, with Cloud Professional of the Year.

Rising Stars Awards 2019: Here's our gallery of winners

All the top photos from the first-ever awards for new starters in tech

The Excellence in Support Award went to Neil Herron of Grid Smarter Cities.

Rising Stars Awards 2019: Here's our gallery of winners

All the top photos from the first-ever awards for new starters in tech

Piers Pollard from Equals Collective was our Innovative Developer of the Year.

Rising Stars Awards 2019: Here's our gallery of winners

All the top photos from the first-ever awards for new starters in tech

The judges chose Dr Jeremy Bradley of Royal Mail as Mentor of the Year.

Rising Stars Awards 2019: Here's our gallery of winners

All the top photos from the first-ever awards for new starters in tech

Stephanie Haynes of HORIBA MIRA won Security Apprentice of the Year.

Rising Stars Awards 2019: Here's our gallery of winners

All the top photos from the first-ever awards for new starters in tech

AO World brought what looked like the entire IT team to collect Team of the Year - Large Organisations.

Rising Stars Awards 2019: Here's our gallery of winners

All the top photos from the first-ever awards for new starters in tech

Pickr won Team of the Year - SME, in a hard-fought category.

Rising Stars Awards 2019: Here's our gallery of winners

All the top photos from the first-ever awards for new starters in tech

Cyber Security Associates Ltd was crowned winner of Training Scheme of the Year.

Rising Stars Awards 2019: Here's our gallery of winners

All the top photos from the first-ever awards for new starters in tech

Jasmina Mularska from BT was the Rising Star of the Year - Large Organisations.

Rising Stars Awards 2019: Here's our gallery of winners

All the top photos from the first-ever awards for new starters in tech

Krittika D'Silva from the University of Cambridge deservedly won the evening's final award: Rising Star of the Year - Not-for-Profit.

Thanks to all of our attendees, shortlisted companies and everyone else who entered the awards. We'll see you again next year!