2025 Categories
With over 30 categories, we celebrate exceptional achievements, innovation, and leadership across the incentive, payroll and rewards sectors. This provides a platform to recognise the brightest talents and top-performing teams committed to excellence and innovation within the industry.
Getting started
Login or register for free to view the category criteria. From there you can enter as many categories you wish and can edit and return to your entries as many times as you like before the final deadline.
Entry deadline
There will be no entry fees if submissions are complete by 20 June 2025. After this, an entry fee of £144 + VAT will be applied until the final deadline of 8 August 2025.
Need help?
Whether that be support with writing your entries or suggestions on which categories are best fit for you, we’re here to help. Contact our Awards team.
Categories
Best Business Award
Who should enter?
Nominations welcome from businesses in the payroll, HR, pensions, benefits and reward space that can quantify their success, growth and innovation.
Best Company to Work For
Who should enter?
Nominations welcome from organisations that can quantify their staff satisfaction levels and demonstrate a commitment to employee engagement and development.
Best Earned Wage Access Strategy
Who should enter?
Applicants who supply earned wage access services to their employees and companies can apply for this to stop people from getting payday loans and help people with paying their bills.
Best Reward Strategy
Who should enter?
Applications welcome from any company or organisation that can show they have an innovative reward strategy which engages and enhances their employees’ lives.
Best Use of Technology
Who should enter?
Applications welcome from in-house teams or software/service providers. Applications should highlight how technology has helped to enhance work in the payroll, HR, payments, pensions, benefits or reward space, providing significant benefits to service provision.
Diversity & Inclusion Trailblazer
Who should enter?
Applications welcome from any company or organisation that has promoted diversity and inclusion within their own workforce, as well as organisations that have contributed to industry-wide initiatives.
Employee Benefits Provider Award
Excellence in Customer Service Award
Who should enter?
Applications welcome from payroll, HR, benefits, pensions and reward teams or service providers that can quantify and demonstrate outstanding customer service.
Financial Impact Award
Who should enter?
This award recognises organisations or individuals who have demonstrated exceptional initiatives to support their employees or business through significant financial challenges.
Global Payroll Excellence Award
Who should enter?
Applications welcomed by payroll teams dealing with global, multi-country or expatriate payrolls, who are delivering cost-effective and accurate payrolls.
In-house Team Award
Who should enter?
Applications welcome from in-house people teams (e.g. pay, HR, pensions, benefits and reward) that have demonstrated outstanding performance.
Innovation Award
Who should enter?
Applications welcome from any company or organisation that has carried out a project to introduce, innovate or transform a system or strategy.
Mentor of the Year
Who should enter?
Applications are invited from individuals who motivate others to reach their utmost potential, assisting them in overcoming obstacles that might hinder their progress compared to their peers.
Outstanding Leader in Employee Benefits
Who should enter?
Applications are invited from the industry for individuals who have shown innovation when it comes to developing new employee benefits for their workforce, as well as being reactive to the changing wants and needs of staff post-pandemic.
Outstanding Leader in HR
Who should enter?
Nominations are welcome for individuals who are leaders in their organisation and have enhanced HR systems for their workforce.
Outstanding Leader in Payroll
Who should enter?
Nominations welcome for individuals who are leaders in their organisation and have paved the way to enhance payroll and its systems for their workforce.
Outstanding Leader in Pensions
Who should enter?
Applications are invited from the industry for individuals who have shown how they have adapted to legislation changes, with proof from employees (testimonials) that they have been kept in the loop with clear communication.
Outstanding Leader in Reward
Who should enter?
Applications are invited from the industry for individuals who are leaders in their organisation and who spearhead the reward strategy for their workforce.
Payments Provider Award
Who should enter?
Applications welcome from organisations delivering international and/or UK-based payroll payments.
Payroll & HR Provider Award
Who should enter?
Applications welcome from providers of outsourced, fully-managed or bureau services.
Payroll & HR Software Product Award
Who should enter?
Applications welcome from providers of payroll and HR systems and software products, new or existing.
Public Sector Team Award
Who should enter?
Applications welcome from in-house public sector payroll, HR, pensions, benefits and reward teams that have demonstrated outstanding performance.
Rising Star Award
Who should enter?
Applications welcome from all payroll, HR, pensions, employee benefits and reward staff that have less than five years’ industry service.
Service Provider Team Award
Who should enter?
Applications welcome from bureau or outsourced payroll, HR and reward teams that have demonstrated outstanding performance.
Sustainable Workplace Initiative Award
Who should enter?
This award is open to organisations within the payroll, HR, employee benefits, and pensions industry that have demonstrated outstanding commitment to environmental sustainability.
Woman of the Year
Who should enter?
This award acknowledges remarkable accomplishments achieved by a woman in the payroll, HR, pensions, benefits and reward sectors.
Workplace Pension Provider Award
Who should enter?
Applications welcome from organisations supplying workplace pension schemes compliant with auto-enrolment legislation.
More information
Confidentiality
All materials will remain confidential to the judges. Winning case studies may be used in post-event materials to promote best practice but permission will be sought from entrants before publishing.
Terms & Conditions
By entering the awards, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy notice.
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