Meet the 2026 Engage Awards Winners

Meet our 20256winners!

On Tuesday 10th November, 700 leaders from across the customer and employee engagement community came together at Old Billingsgate, London, for the 2026 Engage Awards, hosted by comedian Maisie Adam.

Now in their 11th year, and fresh from being named Awards Event of the Year at the Awards Awards 2026, the Engage Awards received a record-breaking number of entries across 37 categories this year. Every entry was assessed by an independent panel of 40 judges, who praised the outstanding calibre of this year’s submissions.

Here are the winners and finalists across our employee engagement categories, celebrating the organisations putting their people at the heart of their success.

Best Flexible Working Initiative

Gold: ElectraLink

ElectraLink introduced a permanent four-day working week with no reduction in pay and no compressed hours, an idea that started with its own employees. Developed collaboratively through consultation, pilots and ongoing feedback, the approach is built on trust, autonomy and outcomes rather than hours worked. Supported by hybrid working and inclusive family policies, it has made flexibility available to everyone, strengthening wellbeing, inclusion and engagement while the business continues to grow.

What the judges said: The judges described this as super impressive and truly transformational for employees. They loved that it listened to what employees said would make a difference, then made it happen, with clear benefits for both the business and its people.

Finalists: ElectraLink, POWWR, Robert Gordon University

Best Use of Social & Community for Customer Engagement

Gold: Oxford International

When its Spring Competitions were marketed independently for the first time, Oxford International turned to its own social channels to build a genuine international community. Rather than relying on paid promotion, the team followed the participant journey, sharing explainers, mentor spotlights and practical guidance before arrival, then authentic student interviews and live storytelling once the programmes began. Students, parents, schools and partners were able to follow and share the experience together, creating a lasting community and a sustainable platform for future programmes.

What the judges said: The judges loved the warm, authentic storytelling that built a credible international community from a standing start. They called it a great example of using community and social platforms to engage an audience, hitting exactly the right spot.

Finalists: Cumberland Building Society, Oxford International, Workvivo by Zoom

Best Employee-Led Transformation

Gold: SYSTERAL

SYSTERAL is a unified IT service management platform built from within by the YouCall-it team, the same people who had spent years running a global IT services network and experiencing its challenges first-hand. Shaped by direct feedback from clients, service providers and colleagues, the platform brings procurement, service delivery, vendor management and inventory oversight together in one place, supported by an AI assistant named in memory of a much-missed colleague. The result is a more transparent, connected way of delivering IT services for businesses around the world.

What the judges said: The judges called this an impressive, employee-driven transformation, built by people who understood the challenges first-hand. They described it as a standout programme that has transformed service delivery for YouCall-it and its customers.

Finalists: Colleague Representation Forum (CRF) partnering with Standard Life, Cummins, Mott MacDonald, SYSTERAL

Best Example of Talent Management & Development

Gold: Clarity Environmental Ltd

Clarity Environmental created its ‘Set up for Success’ programme, a structured onboarding and development journey that gives every new starter a clear route to mastering their role. Each person follows a transparent plan built on a ‘tell, show, do, review’ approach, combining workshops, shadowing, role play, case studies and coaching, with progress tracked openly throughout. Creative touches such as an Olympic medal-style sign-off for each skill keep new colleagues motivated, helping them become confident experts quickly while staying connected to Clarity’s culture during a period of rapid growth.

What the judges said: The judges were impressed by a programme that tackled a real business problem head on, with great feedback and clear evidence of real impact. They were delighted to see it meet its objectives so convincingly.

Finalists: Clarity Environmental Ltd, Informa PLC, Simplyhealth, Sopra Steria

Best Personalisation of Employee Experience

Gold: SUSE

SUSE’s Futureselves Discovery Programme is a personalised journey for experienced, later-career colleagues, designed by its in-house organisational psychologist. Built around four pillars of Wisdom, Wealth, Work and Wellbeing, it helped participants shape goals across their careers, lifestyles and values, supported by expert-led workshops and a personalised AI coach. Participants also experimented with AI tools to solve real work challenges, helping SUSE’s most experienced people feel seen, re-energised and ready for the future.

What the judges said: The judges called this an excellent, unique and inspiring entry. They noted that investing in people at this stage of their careers is rare, yet the impact is clearly demonstrated, with some really positive employee feedback.

Finalists: Clarity Environmental Ltd, Firstup, Montcalm Collection, SUSE

Best Employee Engagement Redesign

Gold: Accenture

Accenture’s StratComms team reimagined internal communications for a global client account, turning routine updates into something people genuinely wanted to engage with. The BOSS Campaign introduced a distinctive new identity, including a playful cast of characters in professional attire, created with humans in the lead and AI as the envisioning engine. Rolled out through reusable templates, leadership moments and storytelling sessions that turned employees into brand ambassadors, it has made communications something colleagues look forward to and act on.

What the judges said: The judges described this as a creative, engaging and truly unique way to drive engagement and connection, and a really positive way of instilling pride. In the words of one judge: so impressive!

Finalists: Accenture, Network Rail, Sutton 1079, Thomas, Welcome Break

Everyday AI for Customers & Colleagues

Gold: Forty1

Forty1 created an AI Academy for Inizio Engage XD that treated AI adoption as a people and behaviour change challenge rather than a technology rollout. Using behavioural insight to tailor the experience to different audiences, it combined learning pathways, leadership storytelling, peer advocacy, communities of practice and immersive, AI-powered experiences. Colleagues learned with AI by solving real business challenges together, and the approach is now being scaled across the wider business and adapted for clients.

What the judges said: The judges praised a people-centric, thoughtful and well-built approach to embedding AI into the business. Strong testimonials, and its roll-out as a solution for clients, show just how successful it has been.

Finalists: Accenture, EPAM Systems Ltd, Flightscape, Forty1, Merck & RLVNT.AI

Best Employee Engagement Team

Gold: InteLogix

The InteLogix Philippines leadership team, led by Country Manager Eden Gutierrez, shapes the employee experience at every stage, from recognition and wellbeing to crisis response and community outreach. When a series of earthquakes and typhoons struck the Bacolod region, the team opened its site to employees and their families as a place of safety, then redirected its engagement budget into grassroots relief for the local community, delivered by employee volunteers. Ongoing initiatives such as tree planting continue to connect employee wellbeing, community impact and business success in one culture of care.

What the judges said: The judges called this an excellent and very impressive example of internal engagement working hand in hand with community engagement, making InteLogix a genuine employer of choice.

Silver: First Bus

First Bus’s Colleague Engagement Team helps a large, largely frontline workforce across the UK and Ireland feel informed, connected, valued and heard.

Finalists: Anglo American, Clarion Housing Group, First Bus, InteLogix, Montcalm Collection, Nationwide Building Society, Sanofi

Best Employee Experience for Frontline or Hard-to-Reach Employees

Gold: Grupo Salinas

Grupo Salinas created Salud GS to close a gap in access to healthcare for employees across Mexico, so that where someone lives no longer determines the care they receive. The integrated wellness service brings medical, psychological, nutritional and paediatric specialists to employees wherever they are, through phone, chat, video and messaging, with a simple log-in and no app download needed. AI-powered triage and a conversational assistant help employees describe their concerns naturally, while personalised reminders and workshops shift the focus from treatment to prevention.

What the judges said: Wow was the word from the judges: an initiative making a genuine, life-changing difference to employees and their families. A brilliant example of diagnosing a real need and creating a truly inclusive solution. Amazing!

Silver: Glasgow 2026 Legends

Glasgow 2026 recruited, trained and deployed its volunteer workforce, The Legends, in record time to deliver the Commonwealth Games.

Finalists: First Bus, Glasgow 2026 Legends, Grupo Salinas, Jaguar Land Rover, Northumbria Police, Serco Environmental Services, Welcome Break 

Best Employee Listening and Insight Strategy

Gold: BBC

The BBC redesigned employee listening as a continuous, trusted system rather than a series of one-off events. Inspired by how radio listening became an everyday habit, it moved from centralised to distributed listening, building a network of trained facilitators across the organisation and focusing on psychologically safe spaces for genuine dialogue. Treated as a People Experience product in its own right, the approach turns colleague insight into visible decisions and action, helping build a more inclusive and responsive organisation.

What the judges said: The judges called this a fantastic entry that proves the impact listening can have on decision-making and action. They loved how deep listening has replaced survey fatigue, turning sharp insight into action that shapes culture.

Silver: Grupo Salinas

Cuéntanos, meaning ‘Tell Us’, is Grupo Salinas’ long-running employee listening and support programme, designed to hear employees across offices, stores and remote field locations throughout Mexico, including those without regular digital access.

Finalists: Aberdeen plc, Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A., Aster Group, BBC, Colleague Representation Forum (CRF) partnering with Standard Life, Grupo Salinas, Newstel Worldwide

Best Internal Communications Strategy

Gold: Accenture

Accenture’s StratComms team acts as the dedicated internal communications function for a large global client account, treating communications as a behavioural design challenge rather than a production task. Every piece of work starts with what employees need to understand or do differently, from campaigns that helped colleagues adopt new AI tools with confidence, to an interactive prototype that brought a new chatbot to life for stakeholders, to an origami-inspired culture identity that shows values in everyday moments. Thoughtful use of AI extends the team’s creative capacity, so communications land with clarity and lead to real change.

What the judges said: The judges called this a fantastic example of true strategic communications, embedded at the heart of the business. They found the focus on genuine behaviour change, rather than clicks and likes, a refreshing change.

Silver: Aster Group

Aster Group co-designed a new internal communications strategy with its colleagues, built around one simple principle: connection.

Finalists: Accenture, Aster Group, Currie & Brown, DKSH, EY, People's Pension, Tata Consultancy Services

Best Use of AI in Employee Engagement

Gold: Merck & RLVNT.AI

Merck’s Global Communications function, working with RLVNT.AI, set out to turn access to its internal AI platform into real, lasting AI confidence across its worldwide team. The people-first programme combines regular MondAI learning sessions and an online community with a network of trained Change Agents, each given dedicated time to coach colleagues. AI upskilling was built into performance goals, while creative touches such as an AI avatar called Alfred and talks from leading technology experts made the journey engaging, creating a blueprint that can be shared across the wider business.

What the judges said: The judges praised strong, demonstrable results from a simple, targeted programme focused on behaviour change. They highlighted dedicated time for change agents as a brilliant example of building AI into the culture.

Silver: EPAM Systems Ltd

EPAM’s AI/RUN Global People.Transform Bootcamp took a build-your-own-agent approach, previously used with engineers, and applied it to its entire People function for the first time.

Finalists: Dubai Electricity and water authority /DEWA Innovation & Future Shaping Framework (AI), Each Person, EPAM Systems Ltd, Firstup, Luware, Merck & RLVNT.AI, Nationwide Building Society

Best Rewards & Recognition Programme

Gold: National Grid

National Grid transformed a well-liked but under-used recognition scheme into Living our values, a company-wide cultural programme that turned its three values, Do the right thing, Find a better way and Make it happen, into visible, everyday behaviours. Built on one strategic and creative platform but delivered locally, it gave business units the flexibility to tailor content and celebrations to their people, with a particular focus on reaching field colleagues. Colleagues were involved at every stage, from nominating and judging to choosing and celebrating, strengthening pride, belonging and connection across a dispersed workforce.

What the judges said: The judges named this the strongest submission in the category, praising a great increase in participation and an inclusive experience with peer ownership at every stage.

Silver: Impact Food Group

Impact Food Group created Making an Impact, a company-wide recognition programme designed for the realities of its frontline school catering teams.

Finalists: Bupa, Dubai Electricity and water authority - Share.K Recognition Programme, Each Person, Grupo Salinas, Impact Food Group, National Grid, Voy, Warner Hotels

Best Use of Technology in Employee Engagement

Gold: Currys x YellowFish

Currys and Yellow Fish have partnered to create Be Amazing, a bespoke digital engagement platform that engages, educates and recognises Currys’ frontline retail colleagues across the UK and Ireland. Designed around the Currys Store Plan, the platform turns business priorities into engaging experiences through interactive learning, gamification and personalised rewards and recognition. During the busy peak trading period, connected campaigns used live sales, HR and customer satisfaction data to reward colleagues fairly, recognise outstanding customer service instantly and reinforce the behaviours that matter most on the shop floor.

What the judges said: The judges called this an excellent entry with great storytelling and impact. They praised a clear connection between engagement and company success, and an excellent use of technology with standout results.

Silver: V&A

With new museums opening, the V&A created an intranet its growing workforce could trust.

Finalists: Currys x YellowFish, Firstup, Four Seasons London at Park Lane, Knight Frank, Love's Travel Stops and Interact, Parkdean Resorts & Inpulse, Thomas, V&A

Best Approach to Change Management

Gold: Currie & Brown

Currie & Brown used the launch of its new global brand, built around the value of certainty, as a programme of organisational change, helping employees understand, adopt and confidently apply a new strategic positioning in their everyday work. Shaped by research with employees and clients, the programme followed a model of global consistency and local ownership, with leaders prepared first and then equipped to explain the change to their own teams. Practical tools, messaging and ongoing support turned the brand into a shared narrative, helping the business differentiate itself and strengthen client relationships.

What the judges said: The judges described an exceptionally well-planned change programme, treating the brand launch not as a one-off campaign but a sustained programme. A mature understanding of how to make change stick.

Silver: NatWest Boxed

NatWest Boxed’s Operational Readiness Team built, from a blank slate, the operational engine needed to support the rapid growth of a new Banking-as-a-Service business.

Bronze: Ceres

Following a period of restructuring, Ceres launched A New Era, a business-wide transformation programme to rebuild confidence and align its people behind a clear vision for growth.

Finalists: Allianz Partners Health and Clever Nelly, BDO, Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Ceres, Currie & Brown, Forty1, Merck & RLVNT.AI, NatWest Boxed, Northumbria Police, Royal Mail + NKD, Thames Water - Retail Change & Contact Centre Support

Best Diversity and Inclusion Strategy

Gold: Xceed

Xceed set out to build a workforce from talent others were overlooking: people from underserved communities in Upper Egypt and people with visual and physical disabilities. It became the first company in Egypt to establish contact centre capabilities in Upper Egypt, opening delivery centres in Qena and Asyut, and built a structured disability employment programme, scaled through a partnership with GIZ Egypt. Roles are designed around each person’s needs, with tailored tools such as customised screen reader software, proving that inclusive hiring delivers better outcomes for people and the business alike.

What the judges said: The judges called this a highly compelling and truly strategic programme, opening up employment in underserved regions and creating meaningful careers for people with disabilities. Great diversity in action!

Silver: Murphy

Murphy’s People & Social Value Strategy is designed to improve the lives of current and future employees and the communities it works in, building a workplace where everyone feels secure and comfortable to be themselves.

Bronze: ElectraLink

ElectraLink’s Diversity & Inclusion Strategy was created to ensure every employee feels accepted, valued and able to contribute fully, with the ambition of becoming a leading example of best practice in the energy sector.

Finalists: Bright Horizons UK, Concentrix + Virgin Media O2, Each Person, ElectraLink, JCDecaux, JLR, Leonardo Hotels, Mastek UK, Murphy, Volkswagen Group UK, Xceed

Best Use of Innovation in Employee Engagement

Gold: Bright Horizons UK

Bright Horizons created SuperChef in response to feedback from its nursery chefs, who wanted more opportunities to showcase their skills and shape the food they serve. Chefs from across the organisation were invited to create and submit original recipes meeting the company’s nutritional standards, with winning and finalist dishes added to nursery menus. The initiative turned chefs from behind-the-scenes colleagues into recognised innovators, strengthening pride, engagement and their connection to Bright Horizons’ purpose of supporting children’s health and wellbeing.

What the judges said: The judges loved everything about this approach, giving airtime to some true unsung heroes. A refreshingly simple idea with real impact on employees, customers and the business. Great entry!

Silver: ElectraLink

ElectraLink introduced a permanent four-day working week, with no reduction in pay and no compressed hours, to improve wellbeing, engagement and inclusion while maintaining strong business performance.

Bronze: Sanofi

Sanofi’s Mapping What Matters initiative built a robust, journey-based diagnostic to understand where employees experience friction and why.

Finalists: Awardco, Bright Horizons UK, Dubai Electricity and water authority - Innovation Collaboration Program, each person, ElectraLink, Firstup, Immediate, Mars, Incorporated., MindShift Labs, Northumbria Police, Royal Mail, Sanofi

Best Employee Engagement Strategy

Gold: Sanofi

Sanofi’s Employee Experience Strategy is built on a simple conviction: engagement is the outcome of a well-designed employee journey. Building on its first employee journey diagnostic and design-thinking sessions where employees identify friction and co-create solutions, the strategy brings together a unified global framework, a dashboard connecting employee experience to business outcomes, tangible improvements at key moments such as onboarding and career transitions, and equipping every employee to drive experience improvement themselves.

What the judges said: The judges called this a first-class entry that nails it: employee experience is the driver of business outcomes. A small team creating wide global change. Well done to a team doing EXcellent work!

Silver: Skyscanner Internal Communications

As Skyscanner launched its new company strategy, Accelerate, its Internal Communications team shifted its role from sharing information to building belief.

Bronze: First Bus

First Bus set out to rebuild trust and create a consistent, people-first experience for colleagues across the UK and Ireland, most of whom are frontline drivers and engineers.

Finalists: Avanti Communications, British Airways, First Bus, Four Seasons London at Park Lane, JCDecaux, Montcalm Collection, National Grid, Nationwide Building Society, Newstel Worldwide, Paysafe, Sanofi, SAP UKI, Skyscanner Internal Communications

Vision and Values

Gold: Nationwide Building Society

Following its acquisition of Virgin Money, Nationwide set out to maintain engagement, build cultural cohesion and connect colleagues across both organisations to a shared purpose. A ‘Stronger. Together.’ identity and narrative became the golden thread through communications and leadership moments, and both leadership teams developed a joint Blueprint setting out a shared purpose, strategic priorities and customer-first behaviours. When the integration reached its final legal milestone, the ‘We’re official!’ campaign marked the moment as one Nationwide team, deepening pride, belief and connection.

What the judges said: The judges described a highly effective culture programme delivered during a major acquisition, creating alignment and belief at a potentially disruptive time. Fantastic, well planned and particularly impressive.

Silver: The Podcast Guys Ltd

As The Podcast Guys grew quickly, its old values had become something nobody could name.

Bronze: Newstel Worldwide

Newstel’s culture grew around the vision and values of its founder and CEO, Jonas Fandrey, but they had never been written down.

Finalists: Ceres, Flexicare (Group) Limited, GAUCHO Restaurants, Genus plc, Hill Group, JCDecaux, MarketStar, National Grid, Nationwide Building Society, Newstel Worldwide, NSPCC, POWWR, SANOFI, The Podcast Guys Ltd, Voy

Best Company Culture or Workplace Culture Initiative

Gold: V&A

With new museums opening, including V&A East, the V&A set out to embed V&A East’s ethos of democratising access to culture into its working culture and prepare the organisation for multi-site working. The museum focused on inclusive recruitment to inspire new and different people to work and volunteer with it, and introduced a new Employer Brand to deliver a consistent experience at every stage of a V&A career. Collaboration across sites has helped build an integrated culture where staff and volunteers feel inspired and enabled to play their part in bringing creativity to all.

What the judges said: The judges praised a brilliant articulation of what the V&A set out to achieve, calling it a super programme to rejuvenate the museum’s culture, with phenomenal evidence of impact.

Silver: SANOFI

Sanofi’s Culture Talks give every leader and manager a ready-to-use, structured forum for team conversations that bring the company’s values to life.

Bronze: Accenture- GiveBack

#GIVEBACK is an employee citizenship programme launched by Accenture Strategy & Consulting India to turn a commitment to sustainability and social impact into everyday employee action.

Finalists: Accenture- GiveBack, Alpine Fire Engineers, DAS Fire, Archipelo Coaching, Aster Group, BritBox International Ltd, Clarity Environmental Ltd, MindShift Labs, National Grid, Penningtons Manches Cooper, Richmond Pharamacology, Rotork Plc, SANOFI, SGN, Somerset Bridge Group, Sopra Steria, V&A

Best Employee Wellbeing Strategy

Gold: People's Pension

The People’s Pension, part of not-for-profit People’s Partnership, put colleague health and wellbeing at the centre of its ambitious growth plans, recognising that engaged, resilient colleagues are essential to delivering exceptional service. Its strategy combines holistic wellbeing support with genuine colleague ownership, through colleague networks, feedback, wellbeing champions and co-created initiatives. Wellbeing is treated as a strategic enabler of engagement, productivity and performance, true to the organisation’s long-standing social purpose.

What the judges said: The judges described an outstanding wellbeing strategy, with colleagues genuinely shaping the agenda. One judge called it probably the best entry they had read in terms of understanding the brief.

Silver: Elsevier

Elsevier launched MindLife to give every employee meaningful, accessible support for their whole-person health, where previously there had been no formal wellbeing provision.

Bronze: HubGem

HubGem’s wellbeing strategy has one aim: a workplace where nobody has to choose between the job they love and the life they love.

Finalists: Bupa, Elsevier, EPAM Systems, Inc., Freemans Grattan Holdings, GAUCHO Restaurants, Hill Group, Hope 4U, Housing 21, HubGem, JLR (Jaguar Land Rover), Jobsplus, Leonardo Hotels, London Borough Of Havering, Orbia, People's Pension, SAP UKI, Simplyhealth

Best Use of Training

Gold: Impact Food Group

Impact Food Group developed a bespoke Production Chef Apprenticeship Programme, in partnership with Learnmore, to attract, develop and retain talent in school catering. Designed around the realities of school food production, it lets learners apply their skills in their roles straight away, transforming apprenticeships from a compliance activity into a strategic driver of workforce development. The programme challenges perceptions of hospitality careers and creates clear pathways for colleagues to progress from entry-level positions into skilled and leadership roles.

What the judges said: The judges called this innovative, creative, practical and inspirational, with the clearest evidence of impact in the category. As one judge put it: if only all apprenticeships were run this way. Brilliant!

Silver: Four Seasons London at Park Lane

Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane created Elevate, a leadership programme designed to create lasting changes in behaviour rather than simply building knowledge.

Bronze: Forty1

For Inizio Engage XD, Forty1 and Inizio’s learning specialists Nazaré designed an AI Academy built to change how people work, not just what they know.

Finalists: Allianz Partners Health and Clever Nelly, Black and White Engineering Ltd, Bupa + Ipsos, Flutter UK & Ireland, Forty1, Foundation, Four Seasons London at Park Lane, Foxtons, Glasgow 2026 Legends, Impact Food Group, JCDecaux, Lantmannen Unibake UK Limited, Lhasa Limited, NSPCC, P&O Cruises in partnership with Cowry Consulting, Simplyhealth, Space NK

Great Place to Work

Gold: HubGem

HubGem, recently named the World’s Happiest Workplace, has built a culture on trust, psychological safety and genuine care for the whole person. Its approach to leadership draws on social work and psychology rather than traditional management theory, with every leader trained through the HubGem Leadership Programme and The Happy Workplace Programme to hold strengths-based conversations, create safety in one-to-ones and coach on resilience. Guided by a People Strategy that puts culture, wellbeing and engagement first, HubGem shows what is possible when people are trusted, supported and able to bring their whole selves to work.

What the judges said: The judges called this a very strong, persuasive entry, and found it hard to argue with the World’s Happiest Workplace! They loved the line that sets the tone: ‘We no longer call these HR metrics. We call them leadership metrics.’

Silver: Bright Horizons UK

Bright Horizons has built a colleague experience rooted in purpose, belonging and growth, guided by its HEART values of Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Respect and Teamwork.

Bronze: ElectraLink

ElectraLink has built a culture on trust, flexibility, inclusion and employee voice, where people, purpose and performance are intrinsically linked.

Finalists: Black and White Engineering Ltd, Bright Horizons UK, ElectraLink, Flexicare (Group) Limited, Hackney Markets, Shop Fronts & Street Trading, Housing 21, HubGem, Landmark Information Group, MarketStar, Mastek UK, nVent, Richmond Pharamacology, SAP UKI, Speexx, UK Inbound Sales at Domestic & General

Thank you

A huge congratulations to all of our winners and finalists, and a heartfelt thank you to our judges for giving so much of their time and expertise.

Want to hear more stories like these? Join us at the Engage Employee Summit on 19–20 May 2027 at Evolution London. Find out more at EngageEmployee.com.

The 2027 Engage Awards dinner will take place on 9th November 2027, with entries opening on 27th January 2027. Find out more at www.EngageAwards.com.