This week marks the launch of the most prestigious event in the HR calendar – the Personnel Today Awards 2009.
Now known simply as The Awards, reflecting their status as the longest-standing and most prestigious awards for the profession, they recognise and reward those HR teams making an impact with their people policies and delivering great bottom-line business benefits.
If your HR department has spearheaded an innovative project, driven down costs, been courageous in implementing change, or achieved great results in the past 18 months, then you could be a winner of one of our 13 coveted awards. Plus, all category winners compete to win the overall gold award for the best of the best.
This year, we have introduced a new award category: the Award for Managing Change. Organisations will need to demonstrate they have undertaken a successful change programme resulting in clear improvements to the business. The judge will look for examples of HR’s role in managing and embedding the change initiative, and evidence of strong, clear, ongoing communication about the need for the change and the status of the change.
All shortlisted teams are invited to attend a pre-awards drinks reception in September, and the dazzling awards ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel on London’s Park Lane on 26 November.
Last year, HR’s finest were revealed at the spectacular Personnel Today Awards 2008. The event kicked off in style with Chinese dragons and acrobatic dancers, echoing the overall theme. During dinner, the ‘Three Waiters’ entertained the 1,200 guests, followed by comedy from awards host Dara O’Briain.
Speaking at last year’s awards, David Fairhurst, senior vice-president and chief people officer at last year’s overall winner McDonald’s, said: “We’ve worked so hard on the perception gap between what the business delivers and what people perceive it to deliver. To walk on stage and think people have recognised what we’re doing is great – we’re delighted.”
Each category is independently judged by a well-respected industry figure. Entries must include a 250-word statement, plus 200 words (600 in total) covering each of the following criteria:
- The challenge (what the organisation hoped to achieve)
- The solution (what the organisation/individual did)
- Benefits to the organisation.
The closing date for entries is 5 June.
For more information go to www.personneltodayawards.com
Personnel Today Awards 2009 categories
- HR Impact Award
- HR Director of the Year Award
- Award for Talent Management
- Award for Excellence in HR Through Technology
- Award for Diversity in the Workplace
- Award for Innovation in Recruitment and Retention
- Award for Best HR Strategy in Line with Business
- Employer Branding Award
- Employee Engagement Award
- Award for Excellence in Training
- Award for Reward and Recognition
- Award for Health at Work
- NEW – Award for Managing Change
Personnel Today Awards 2008 winners
- HR Impact Award – Thorntons
- HR Director of the Year Award – Helen Giles, Broadway Homelessness & Support
- Award for Talent Management – Mouchel
- Award for Excellence in HR Through Technology – NHS Employers
- Award for Diversity in the Workplace – British Gas Services
- Award for Excellence in Business Partnering – Pfizer UK
- Award for Innovation in Recruitment and Retention – Paul UK
- Award for Delivering Business Improvement though People – Harrod UK
- Award for Best HR Strategy in Line with Business – McDonald’s Restaurants
- Employer Branding Award – IHG
- Employee Engagement Award – Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust
- Award for Excellence in Training – B&Q
- Award for Reward and Recognition – Thorntons
- Award for Health at Work – Chorley Borough Council
- Overall winner – McDonald’s Restaurants
