Categories and scoring guidelines

The Best Communications Strategy for Benefits Uptake award recognises companies who’ve developed and implemented a communications strategy that doesn’t quietly sit on the sidelines, but delivers key engagement messages and programmes in an open, honest and engaging way.

The judges can’t wait to hear what you’ve done to develop your communications strategy, and then see what you’ve done to move from strategy to practice, sharing examples of one or more of your effective communication campaigns.

The Best Strategy for Supporting Employee Health & Wellbeing award recognises companies who’ve developed a well-formed and holistic wellbeing strategy that serves as the foundation for their current and future wellbeing programmes, helping determine which ones are right for their workforce.

The judges can’t wait to hear what you’ve done to develop your wellbeing strategy, and then see how you've moved from strategy to practice, sharing examples of wellbeing initiatives you’ve put in place to support the strategy.

The Most Impactful Reward and Recognition Strategy award recognises companies that have used innovative and creative ways to boost their culture through a strategic peer-to-peer and manager-led recognition and award programme, to help reinforce your company purpose, mission, values and inclusive behaviours.

The judges would love to see the ways you have rallied people managers and champions and implemented initiatives to make an attributable positive change within your organisation and influence the employee experience.

The Best Financial Support Strategy for Employees award recognises the organisation who has responded to the ongoing cost of living crisis by supporting employee financial wellbeing.

The judges are looking forward to hearing creative and diverse offerings such as education and benefits alongside initiatives that cater to different demographics.

The Best Benefits Launch/ Relaunch award recognises companies who’ve launched or re-launched a new benefits programme in a way that not only grabs the attention of their workforce, but resulted in a high level of activity, delivering on their benefits strategy.

The judges can’t wait to hear how you’ve developed all aspects of your launch/relaunch to include how you designed the programme, communicated it, and measured the results. 

The Most Impactful Social Community Programme award recognises the organisations that have a positive impact on their local communities and whose activities contribute the most social value.
 
The judges want to see appreciation being shown for the wider community in action. They look forward to seeing the mission and purpose behind the programme, how community projects were chosen, the the organisations contribution and the outcomes for both the community it served and the workforce behind it.

The HR Team of the Year award recognises HR teams who work together to drive and deliver employee experience at their company and foster appreciation within their workforce.

The judges can’t wait to hear how the team have joined forces to move the employee experience needle by putting in place appreciation initiative(s), resulting in a successful outcome for their business and their workforce.

The Best Overall People Appreciation Strategy award encompasses the best overall strategy for showing love for who your employees are, not merely what they contribute.

The judges would love to hear the thought that has gone into your benefits mix, how you have considered the diversity and inclusion of your people and how you have curated a well-rounded strategy integrating all elements of your people initiatives to demonstrate true appreciation for your workforce.

The Best Initiative for Fostering Belonging and Inclusion award recognises those organisations who have gone above and beyond in building a culture that enables employees to bring their true selves to work.

The judges would love to hear the steps you've taken to connect your employees with your brand and its mission, how you've curated a psychologically safe working environment and how you are empowering all individuals to share their unique perspectives, ideas and voices within your organisation.

The Best Culture of Appreciation in a Small Business award recognises organisations of 500 or fewer employees who have most effectively curated a culture and employer brand that values its people for who they are, not just what they do.

The judges are excited to hear the thought and expertise behind your appreciation strategy and how the levers and solutions you've utilised in support of the employee experience within your organisation has contributed to building a transformative culture of appreciation.