Charlotte Neal
Just a fortnight ago, our annual awards ceremony made an exciting return, this time with a new name. Now titled the Appreciation Awards, and held under the joint banner of Reward Gateway | Edenred for the first time, our spectacular black tie event was truly a night to remember.
Hosted at the iconic Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the Appreciation Awards (affectionately known as "The Appies") welcomed over 240 of our valued clients and HR experts for an evening of celebration.
These HR heroes came together to honour outstanding achievement within the industry and recognise the transformative power of appreciation in the workplace. Cocktails, canapés and celebration were on the agenda as we all gathered together in the iconic Dome of the V&A, before heading into the Raphael Court for the ceremony.
Opening with Inspiration
Our evening began with an inspiring address from our CEO, Nick Burns, who reminded us why appreciation sits at the apex of the total employee experience.
Nick celebrated the exceptional calibre of the event, acknowledging all 255 applicants, our largest and most impressive group yet, and acknowledged the key role of our partners in organising such a key event.
Our Host
The award ceremony was hosted by acclaimed actor, director and comedian Richard Ayoade, who set the tone for the evening with his signature sarcastic wit.
His hilarious opener had the audience buzzing with excitement from the start, before, in an unexpected twist, a surprise blackout transitioned us into a surprise performance from a violinist trio who serenaded the audience and took us into the highly anticipated awards section of the evening.
Celebrating Our Winners
The awards recognised excellence across various categories, honouring organisations and teams that have made extraordinary contributions to fostering appreciation and engagement.
Representatives from our 50 finalist organisations were gathered with baited breath as we presented 10 awards, celebrating each winner for their remarkable achievements and shining a spotlight on their innovative and impactful approaches to HR challenges.
The standout winners included:
Most creative employee engagement communications strategy
WINNER: Fox’s Burton’s Company (FBC UK)
Highly Commended: Witherslack
Best strategy for supporting employee health & wellbeing
WINNER: Clermont Hotel Group
Highly Commended: Husqvana
Best financial support strategy for employees
WINNER: Medical Protection Society
Highly Commended: Babcock
Most impactful reward and recognition strategy
WINNER: Cruise.co.uk
Highly Commended: EMIS
Best benefits launch / relaunch
WINNER: Salvation Army Trading Company
Highly Commended: Defra
Most transformational culture change through employee experience programme
WINNER: Busy Bees Nurseries
Highly Commended: Defra
Most impactful social community programme
WINNER: Norfolk County Council
Highly Commended: Reed in Partnership
HR leader of the year
WINNER: Nat Jutla, Defra
Highly Commended: Natalie Quilter, Notting Hill Genesis
HR team of the year
WINNER: Inspired Villages Group
Highly Commended: Selco
Best overall people appreciation strategy
WINNER: Affinity Water Limited
Highly Commended: Eden Hotel Collection
Grand Prix Award for highest overall score
WINNER: Norfolk County Council
A Night to Remember
Including the surprise addition of the Grand Prix Award, our ceremony left our attendees excited and inspired by the remarkable stories of appreciation and achievement shared. With this year's extraordinarily strong competition, it was clear that every winner had truly earned their moment in the spotlight.
And after the all the build-up and excitement of the awards ceremony, it was time to party. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Dome, our guests were joined by a DJ and live saxophonist to connect, network and dance the rest of the night away. Here are just a few of the highlights:
While it's been two weeks since the incredible evening that was the Appies, we're already looking forward to next year!
Want to learn more about this year's winners or get inspired for your 2025 submission?
Visit our Appies Hub to discover all the success stories and see all of the photos from a truly spectacular evening.