We are delighted to share the finalists of the HR Excellence Awards 2025.

These awards recognise exceptional contributions to the HR profession, celebrating innovative strategies, outstanding leadership, and remarkable achievements across a range of categories.

Congratulations once again to all the finalists for setting a benchmark of excellence in HR.

BEST DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STRATEGY

Finalists:

• ANS Group

• Bright Horizons

• British Heart Foundation

• The Cambridge Building Society

• H&M Group

• Sony Music Entertainment UK

• Verint Systems UK

• XPO Logistics

BEST EARLY CAREERS STRATEGY

Finalists:

• Bright Horizons

• Canonical

• MHR

• OCU Group

• Ontic

• Welsh Government

• Wise

BEST EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY Sponsored by Reward Gateway | Edenred

Finalists:

• And Evolve

• European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

• Experian

• First Bus

• Odeon Cinemas Group

• Reconomy

• Staci UK

• Welcome to the Jungle

BEST ESG STRATEGY

Finalists:

• Canopy by Hilton London City

• LMAX Group

• RewardU, Urenco x Benifex

• XPO Logistics

BEST HEALTH AND WELLBEING STRATEGY

Finalists:

• Bupa

• Caravan and Motorhome Club

• Centrica x Benifex

• First Bus

• North East Ambulance Service in partnership with Talk Works

• Sony Music Entertainment UK

• Veolia UK

• Westmorland and Furness Council

BEST HR TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY

Finalists:

• Aqua Restaurant Group

• EMCOR UK

• Flutter x Benifex

• Lloyd's

• Office for National Statistics

• STARK Building Materials UK and AdviserPlus

BEST INTERNAL COMMUNICATION STRATEGY

Finalists:

• MOO

• Refresco x Benifex

• TransPennine Express

BEST LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (SME)

Finalists:

• Vagabond Wines

• Venners

BEST LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (Large Organisation)

Finalists:

• Allianz SE

• Bright Horizons

• Dishoom

• HSBC Legal in partnership with Project X Partners

• JCDecaux

• National Fostering Group

• NatWest Group

• Zellis Group

BEST PEOPLE-FOCUSED CEO OF THE YEAR

Finalists:

• Emma Haddad, St Mungo's

• David Hynam, LV=

• David Kaye, Puma Capital Group

• Rob Singer, Exclaimer

• Richard Thompson, ANS Group

BEST REWARD AND RECOGNITION STRATEGY

Finalists:

• University of East London

• Whyte and Mackay x Benifex

BEST TALENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Finalists:

• Elis

• Experian

• Odeon Cinemas Group

• Rider Levett Bucknall

• Sopra Steria

BEST TRANSFORMATION STRATEGY

Finalists:

• Bidvest Noonan

• CBRE GWS

• London School of Economics and Political Science

• Mundipharma

• OneAdvanced

• Paysafe

• Sonia Mooney Signature Solutions in Partnership with The Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust

HR CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR

Finalists:

• Charlotte Sweeney Associates

• Founders HR

• Mayvin Ltd

• Inspired HR

• Let's Talk Talent

• Moorepay

• People Station

• Streetwise HR

HR DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Finalists:

• Lyndsay Chapman, Talos360

• Lyndsey Denning, Reconomy

• Zarah Doyle, Odeon Cinemas Group

• Teresa Excelby, Community Integrated Care

• Rich Hughes, Conexus MedStaff

• Isabel Naidoo, Wise

• Tarinee Pandey, Puma Capital Group

• Pooja Wadhwani, Accenture UK

HR FUTURE LEADER OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Great Place To Work

Finalists:

• Rosalinda Buttice, PensionBee

• Hannah Cooper, Codestone

• Sheryl Godwin-Jones, ANS Group

• Ashlea Harwood, Indevor Group

• Alison Kasobia, Addison Lee

• Justine Lopez, Interhome

• Emma Sanchez Ruiz, Vagabond Wines

HR TEAM OF THE YEAR, SME

Finalists:

• Buckles Law

• Conexus Medstaff

• Puma Capital Group

HR TEAM OF THE YEAR, LARGE ORGANISATION Sponsored by Tesco Corporate Gift Cards

Finalists:

• Allianz SE

• Codestone

• First Bus

• The Lancaster Landmark Hotel Company

• Link Financial Outsourcing

• Transport for London

• Westmorland and Furness Council

• XPO Logistics