A global IT leader is toppings off its £300 million floatation with recognition at “the Oscars of diversity”.

FDM Group, which was founded in a Brighton attic in 1991, has gone on to become the UK’s largest employer of IT graduates.

Earlier this summer it was floated on the stock market to “accelerate the next phase of its development”.

It has now been shortlisted for Company of the Year at the European Diversity Awards 2014, in recognition of its commitment to equality and diversity.

Since the launch of its Women in IT campaign in 2011, FDM has achieved a 25% female workforce, with 50% of the senior management team made up of women.

Chief operating officer Sheila Flavell said: “I am proud to be part of an organisation that celebrates and recognises the value of a diverse workforce.

“Being shortlisted for a European Diversity Award is a fantastic accolade that acknowledges our work for women in IT and the ex-Forces community across Europe.”

The IT support services group flotation saw private equity group Inflexion selling its entire shareholding to raise £234.7 million.

Inflexion said it had made 16 times its money by re-listing the group after owning it for four years.

FDM made a profit of £14.7 million in 2013 on revenues of £105.6 million.

Directors and senior management will own approximately 20.4% of the stock with the free float accounting for nearly 80% of the group’s equity.

Chief executive Rod Flavell said: “Over the last 23 years FDM has grown through multiple technology cycles to establish itself as a leading global professional consulting firm focused on the IT sector. “Our highly differentiated business model of training our own IT and business consultants for specific client needs and placing them as salaried employees within our blue-chip client base has been at the core of this success.

“With the support of Inflexion we have expanded both our geographic reach and breadth of service offering significantly over recent years and this strengthened operational platform leaves FDM extremely well-placed to capitalise on the strong growth prospects of an IT market with global opportunities in big data, mobile and social media. “A public listing will help accelerate this next phase of our development, providing additional funding and raising the profile of FDM with clients and potential employees.

“We welcome our new shareholders and, with their support, look forward to delivering the next chapter of our growth story.”