Metropolitan Police Service steals the show at Personnel Today Awards

The Metropolitan Police Service won the coveted overall award at this year’s Personnel Today Awards for a diversity and inclusion initiative that made a real impact on its own recruitment and its local community.

The Met has substantially increased the number of black and minority ethnic police officers over the past three years through targeted recruitment campaigns and a thorough review of its selection and promotion processes.

Graduate Scheme of the Year Award went to Police Now, an independent charity that works with police forces nationally to break the inter-generational cycle of crime and poverty in deprived communities.

More than 800 HR professionals attended last night’s ceremony in the glamorous surroundings of the Great Room in the Grosvenor House Hotel on London’s Park Lane. The audience was entertained by stand-up comedian and panel show regular Ivo Graham and former Great British Bake Off host Sue Perkins.

The Met was chosen for the “best of the best” prize after it won the award for diversity and inclusion, one of 21 hotly contested categories highlighting great work in the HR profession.

Other highlights of the evening included the HR Team of the Year Award, sponsored by Totaljobs, which was won by Countrywide. The estate agent chain overcame challenges around attrition and engagement after growing through a series of mergers.

One of the most sought-after awards of the evening, HR Director of the Year, was won this year by Vicky Williams of the Lawn Tennis Association.

The LTA has turned around participation in tennis and was nominated in several awards categories for its people strategies and their impact.

Winner of this year’s emerging HR leader award, sponsored by Personnel Today Jobs, was Selina Rothery of CBRE GWS.

Rob Moss, Personnel Today’s editor, said: “Congratulations to all our winners in a year when change has accelerated in both private and public sector organisations. This year the judges have been impressed with real evidence of HR’s impact.”