Reliving the Engagement Excellence Awards

This past week, we held our 9th annual Engagement Excellence Awards, where we welcomed more than 400 guests to an iconic London venue on the River Thames to dance, laugh and share ideas on how they’re making the world a better place to work. 

The evening started off with a drinks reception, followed by dinner and the announcement of this year’s winners, with an unforgettable after-party with live music from Baby Sol. After what we can only classify as two years of immense pressure and stress on our HR community, it was wonderful to unite – in person, nonetheless! – to celebrate successes around the momentous task HR has had in navigating all the challenges that have surfaced. 

Congratulations to all the winners! In no particular order, congratulations go out to: 

• Most effective employee engagement communications strategy – Checkatrade
• Best use of employee engagement platform to drive business strategy – itsu
• Most creative employee engagement platform branding – Plymouth Community Homes
• Best approach to engagement surveys – Flagship Housing Group
• Best benefits strategy – Royal Mail
• Best benefits launch / relaunch – Babcock International Group
• Best strategy for supporting employee wellbeing – Elysium Healthcare
• Best reward and recognition strategy – Missguided
• Best reward and recognition launch / relaunch – Nationwide Building Society 
• Engagement leader of the year – Harry Housen, itsu
• Engagement team of the year – Watford Community Housing
• Rising star of the year – James Kilby, Invosys
• Best Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy – Global Processing Services
• Most innovative response to COVID-19 – The Gym Group
• Most impactful business transformation to support their workforce – Plymouth Community Homes 

From over 200 submissions received, the 2021 Engagement Excellence Award winners were selected in 15 categories by a fully independent judging panel made up of the most experienced HR, benefits and reward experts across a broad range of sectors. 

The categories reflected the core challenges and successes HR has had in connecting, supporting and recognising their people and gave special recognition to individual, team and change leaders that have truly paved the way to remarkable achievements within their organisations. 

While the Yayoi Kusama-inspired dessert ('Infinity mirror mousse') that rounded off the incredible 3-course dinner may have been a particular highlight for a foodie like me, what I’ll remember most are the smiles and cheers throughout the night as our HR changemakers were recognised for all the ways they’ve made their worlds a better place to work. 

As the Head of Client Marketing, I’m honoured and humbled to work with so many of our clients around the world and especially delighted that we are able to show our appreciation for their dedication and innovation. Cheers!