Search for Northern Ireland’s top employers and HR talent shaping a better world of work

The search is on to find Northern Ireland’s top HR talent and workplace initiatives that are helping to create better work and working lives, following the launch of the CIPD Awards in Northern Ireland, 2025.

The annual awards – which take place on 6 March 2025 - celebrate the achievements of HR professionals and people teams who play a leading role in delivering inspiring initiatives that improve working practices and ensure workers are happy, healthy, and productive.

Business professionals from a range of organisations attended the launch event - held at The Ewart in Belfast - where new categories were announced. Former winners from organisations such as Fibrus and Northern Ireland Water also shared their success stories and tips for making a stand-out entry.

Open to all organisations, regardless of sector or size, the prestigious annual awards – which attract around 400 delegates - have 14 categories. These include:

• Best Apprenticeship Scheme
• Best Equality, Diversity & Inclusion initiative
• Best Health & Wellbeing Initiative
  
  

New accolades for the 2025 awards are:

• Best HR/L&D an OD consultant/consultancy
• Best people management in an SME
• Best digital and technology initiative in HR/L&D

The winners of the CIPD Awards in Northern Ireland will also gain one free entry into the national CIPD People Management Awards (PMAs), 2025.

 Daphne Doody-Green, UK Market Director, CIPD said: “In our changed, and changing world of work, the need for responsible and inclusive businesses and quality jobs that can make our communities and economy stronger has never been more important.

“These awards offer the ideal opportunity to recognise and celebrate the achievements of organisations and the people talent behind them that are actively making the world of work better, by investing in their people and creating a more engaged and productive workforce.”

Carol Fitzsimons, Chief Executive, Young Enterprise NI – a judge for the CIPD Awards in Northern Ireland adds: “The standard of entries gets stronger every year, and the addition of new categories for the 2025 awards will help us ensure Northern Ireland is represented at the national CIPD People Management Awards, where some regional winners will go head-to-head with other finalists from across the UK.”

The deadline to enter the CIPD Awards in Northern Ireland, 2025 – sponsored by MCS Group - is 15 November 2024. The black-tie gala announcing the winners will be held on 6 March 2025 at the Titanic Belfast.