You can purchase a duplicate trophy from the Don't Panic trophy shop here post winners announcement and these deliveries are estimated to take 7-8 weeks once payment has been received for your order.
2026 Winners
BEST WORKPLACE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS INITIATIVE
Winner 2026
The Access Group
— Best Workplace Mental Health Awareness Initiative
"The Judges Thought...The Access Group sets a powerful benchmark for workplace mental health awareness, treating wellbeing as a core business priority. A structured, evidence-led approach combined with global coordination and local activation has created meaningful impact at scale. Strong leadership, compelling stories and clear results make this an inspiring and highly effective initiative."
BEST WORKPLACE HEALTH & WELLBEING AWARENESS INITIATIVE
Winner 2026
Modality Partnership
— CARE in Practice: Our Health & Wellbeing Awareness Programme
"The Judges Thought...Modality Partnership shows a deeply committed and well-structured approach to workplace wellbeing within a complex NHS environment. A clear strategy, strong rollout and a distributed support network have driven meaningful impact, with powerful indicators of growing psychological safety and real improvements in day-to-day employee experience."
BEST CHARITABLE/CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY INITIATIVE
Winner 2026
Newsquest & Teenage Cancer Trust
— Charity Partnership 2025
"The Judges Thought...Newsquest demonstrates a powerful example of purpose-driven impact, using its communications expertise and reach to create lasting change. With employee-led selection, strong advocacy influence and a commitment to raising awareness, this partnership goes far beyond traditional support to deliver meaningful and sustainable impact."
Silver 2026
The Keynote Club
— How a small community project became an ambition to help over 1 million people overcome their fear of public speaking
"The Judges Thought...The Keynote Club is a powerful example of turning personal challenge into collective impact. What began as a moment of vulnerability has grown into a meaningful community-led initiative, empowering others to find their voice while staying true to its purpose-driven and accessible roots."
NEXT GENERATION INITIATIVE
Winner 2026
The Jargon Group
"The Judges Thought...The Jargon Group sets a powerful example of long-term commitment to early-career development. With over 15 years of sustained investment, clear progression pathways and strong mentoring, this initiative has become embedded in the culture, delivering meaningful impact for individuals, the business and the wider industry."
Silver 2026
BizClik Media
— Future Workforce Development Initiative
"The Judges Thought...BizClik Media presents a well-structured and thoughtful initiative that embeds development into the heart of the organisation. With a clear focus on early talent, progression and continuous learning, it creates a strong pipeline for future growth while delivering measurable impact on both people and business performance."
ESG PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
Winner 2026
Markerstudy Group
"The Judges Thought...Markerstudy Group has developed a comprehensive and well-integrated ESG programme that aligns environmental, social and governance priorities with organisational strategy. Strong employee engagement, credible frameworks and clear environmental progress combine to deliver meaningful impact across sustainability, community and business performance."
BEST FLEXIBLE WORKING POLICY
Winner 2026
IFF Research
— Further enhancing flexibility through a four-day week trial
"The Judges Thought...IFF Research demonstrates a thoughtful and rigorous approach to evolving flexible working. By combining a four-day week with operational improvements, smart use of technology and clear focus on productivity, they have created a culture where people feel supported while delivering stronger, more focused outcomes."
Silver 2026
Propellernet
"The Judges Thought...Propellernet has created a genuinely embedded approach to flexible working, where trust, autonomy and accountability shape how people work every day. This is not a policy but a lived system that enables openness, strong collaboration and a healthy balance between performance and life beyond work."
BEST CULTURE TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVE
Winner 2026
Stick + Twist
"The Judges Thought...Stick + Twist presents a clear and compelling culture transformation, shifting to a value-driven way of working supported by strong investment in people. With a structured approach to alignment, capability and mindset, alongside robust measurement through tools like the Curve dashboard, the impact is undeniable. Exceptional retention and strong commercial growth highlight a culture change that is both meaningful and highly effective."
Silver 2026
t-three Consulting & Transport for London
— Leading the Future
"The Judges Thought...t-three Consulting demonstrates a thoughtful and well-executed coaching-led approach to culture and leadership development. With strong foundations in insight, impressive scale and clear evidence of impact, this initiative shows how embedding coaching capability can drive meaningful and sustainable change across an organisation."
BEST DIVERSITY, EQUALITY & INCLUSION (DEIB) INITIATIVE
Winner 2026
Flagstone Group
"The Judges Thought...Flagstone Group stands out for its authentic and insight-led approach, placing listening and co-creation at the heart of its culture. By investing early and embedding deeply, this initiative shows strong strategic depth and ownership while delivering meaningful impact and strengthening the business from the inside out."
REMOTE WORKING INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
Winner 2026
Reboot Online
— A sustainable four-day remote structure
"The Judges Thought...Reboot Online sets a strong example of how a remote-first model can successfully integrate a four-day week without compromising performance. With clear structure, thoughtful investment and a focus on wellbeing and progression, this approach delivers both a positive employee experience and sustained commercial success."
BEST EMPLOYEE LED INITIATIVE
Winner 2026
FunnelFuel
— Liv Martin & Harriette Davison
"The Judges Thought...FunnelFuel exemplifies the power of a truly employee-led initiative, with grassroots ideas evolving rapidly into a well-structured and impactful programme. Strong ownership, clear implementation and meaningful cultural impact demonstrate how empowering people can drive engagement and lasting change."
BEST INTEGRATION & MERGER INITIATIVE
Winner 2026
Navantia UK & Harland & Wolff
— Integration & Merger
"The Judges Thought...Navantia UK demonstrates a thoughtful and well-executed approach to integration, balancing operational continuity with cultural unification. By prioritising people, knowledge sharing and wellbeing, they have achieved a smooth merger that preserves strengths, retains talent and builds enhanced capability for the future."
BUSINESS PURPOSE BEFORE PROFIT AWARD
Winner 2026
Octopus Energy
— Social Worker Initiative Leads New Standards in Vulnerable Customer Care
"The Judges Thought...Octopus Energy sets a powerful benchmark for purpose-led business in action. A compassionate and innovative approach to supporting vulnerable customers is embedded directly into operations, delivering meaningful societal impact alongside strong performance. This is a standout example of purpose driving real change at scale."
BEST INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Winner 2026
Active Care Group
"The Judges Thought...Active Care Group has created a warm, inclusive and strategically grounded campaign that truly resonates with colleagues. Built on clear insight and delivered through a thoughtful mix of channels, it successfully combines strong engagement with genuine human connection, making a meaningful impact across the organisation."
Silver 2026
The Access Group
— Best Internal Communications Campaign of the Year
"The Judges Thought...The Access Group demonstrates an impressive and highly effective internal communications campaign, transforming a complex framework into something clear, engaging and accessible at scale. Strong strategic thinking, leadership alignment and innovative use of in-house resources have driven meaningful engagement across the organisation."
BEST EMPLOYEE LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Winner 2026
JCDecaux
— Grow Programme Cultivates Lifelong Inclusive Learning And Development
"The Judges Thought...JCDecaux presents a bold, ambitious transformation, evolving a challenging culture into one defined by learning, inclusion and impact. With impressive results, strong leadership commitment and clear commercial returns, this stands as a powerful example of culture driving performance at scale."
Silver 2026
Inizio Medical
— allegro.
"The Judges Thought...Inizio Medical showcases a thoughtfully designed and impactful learning programme, tailored to a fast-paced, specialist environment. With strong investment in early talent and clear, measurable outcomes, this initiative demonstrates how focused development can drive capability, progression and long-term value."
BEST EMPLOYEE PROGRESSION & RETENTION STRATEGY
Winner 2026
LOCALiQ & The Fulfilment Team
— The
"The Judges Thought...LocaliQ demonstrates a clear and well-executed strategy where investment in people is directly driving exceptional results. Bold decisions, such as prioritising coaching over revenue, highlight genuine commitment to development. With outstanding retention and strong progression, this is a powerful example of culture enabling performance."
BEST ONBOARDING/INDUCTION PROGRAMME
Winner 2026
Brewers Induction
"The Judges Thought...Brewers Induction sets a high standard for onboarding, combining thoughtful design with hands-on, practical learning that truly brings the organisation to life. Strong leadership involvement and a clear focus on experience have created a programme that not only engages new starters but delivers meaningful improvements in retention and integration."
BEST WORKING ENVIRONMENT (REMOTE)
Winner 2026
LOCALiQ
— Fully Remote Working Environment
"The Judges Thought...LOCALiQ sets a standout example of a high-performing remote working environment, built on intentional connection, coaching and people-first leadership. Bold strategic choices and clear investment in people have created a culture where wellbeing, belonging and performance are all strongly evidenced."
BEST HR SOFTWARE OR TOOL
Winner 2026
HBHR
"The Judges Thought...HBHR sets a strong standard for practical, high-impact HR technology, tackling critical challenges like payroll accuracy and fragmented systems. By simplifying processes and bringing everything into one place, the platform delivers clear operational improvements, backed by impressive retention and real-world impact."
BEST WORKING ENVIRONMENT (LOCATION)
Winner 2026
Gearset Cambridge HQ
"The Judges Thought...Gearset Cambridge HQ sets a high standard for workplace design aligned to culture and purpose. A flat, inclusive environment shaped by employee insight has created a space people actively choose to use. The results are compelling, with strong engagement, wellbeing and collaboration clearly evidenced throughout."
LEADERSHIP AWARD
Winner 2026
Outsourced Events Limited
— Denise Sharpe
"The Judges Thought...Outsourced Events stands out for exceptional leadership, resilience and clarity of purpose. Sustained growth, 100% staff and client retention through the pandemic, and outstanding NPS scores demonstrate a culture that truly performs. This is a compelling example of servant leadership driving both people and business success."
Silver 2026
Stick + Twist
— Nick Baker
"The Judges Thought...Stick + Twist showcases a genuinely people-first culture that clearly drives commercial success. With zero attrition, strong growth and high client retention, this is a thoughtful and well-executed approach where culture is embedded as a core business strategy, not a cost."
B-CORP COMPANY OF THE YEAR
Winner 2026
Propellernet
"The Judges Thought...Propellernet stands out for a thoughtful and values-led approach to culture, with innovation and resilience at its core. The commitment to people, evidenced by avoiding redundancies and creating inclusive growth pathways, truly sets this apart. Strong impact, clear differentiation and industry leadership make this a compelling and well-deserved winner."
MOST INNOVATIVE CULTURE
Winner 2026
The Access Group
— Most Innovative Culture
"The Judges Thought...The Access Group demonstrates a mature and authentic approach to cultural transformation, built on trust, listening and meaningful employee engagement. Across a complex, global organisation, the breadth of initiatives and strong measurable outcomes highlight a culture that is truly lived and delivering exceptional impact."
BEST TEAM CULTURE
Winner 2026
Brightec
"The Judges Thought...Brightec delivered a powerful, honest demonstration of culture in action. Faced with real challenges, you chose transparency, unity and courage, protecting your people while strengthening resilience. The result was a fully engaged team, zero attrition, and clear proof that culture drives commercial success."
Silver 2026
Outrank
— Ctl Atl Culture
"The Judges Thought...Outrank delivers an outstanding example of a culture that is fully embedded, measurable and commercially driven. With clear investment, strong ownership and tangible impact, you demonstrate how engaged people power performance. The results speak for themselves, with high retention, strong client satisfaction and sustained business growth clearly evident."
HR PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Winner 2026
POWWR
— Clair Staines
"The Judges Thought...Clair Staines is an exceptional HR professional whose impact at POWWR is both transformative and measurable. With clear objectives, a well-executed strategy and outstanding results across engagement, retention and performance, Clair has played a pivotal role in driving both cultural and commercial success."
BEST COMPANY TO WORK FOR
Winner 2026
Gearset
"The Judges Thought...Gearset sets a benchmark for what it means to be a truly great place to work. Through innovative listening, transparency and a deeply embedded people-first approach, they have created an environment where employees feel valued, engaged and empowered, even during rapid growth."
Silver 2026
Active Care Group
"The Judges Thought...Active Care Group demonstrates a powerful transformation in what it means to be a great place to work within a complex and demanding sector. With clear improvements in retention, leadership stability and employee support, this is a strong example of a people-first culture delivering meaningful impact at scale."
CULTURE TEAM OF THE YEAR
Winner 2026
FunnelFuel
— Liv Martin & Harriette Davison
"The Judges Thought...FunnelFuel has built a vibrant and inclusive culture driven by genuine employee ownership. What began as a grassroots idea has evolved into a well-structured, organisation-wide initiative, with strong participation and a wide range of impactful activities. This is a powerful example of culture shaped by the people it represents."
BUSINESS CULTURE AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR
Winner 2026
Outrank
— Lucy Stirman
"The Judges Thought...Lucy Stirman is a truly outstanding culture ambassador whose impact is clearly felt across every part of Outrank. Guiding and strengthening culture through significant change while supporting rapid growth is a remarkable achievement. With clear passion, consistency and measurable impact, Lucy has played a pivotal role in shaping a culture that is both resilient and thriving."
BEST HR TEAM OF THE YEAR
Winner 2026
Active Care Group
— People & Culture team
"The Judges Thought...Active Care Group’s HR team demonstrates fantastic work, with a clear commitment to people and culture at the heart of everything they do. Their impact is evident, reflecting a strong, consistent approach that is delivering meaningful results and supporting organisational success."
BEST AGENCY TO WORK FOR (SMALL – UNDER 25 EMPLOYEES)
Winner 2026
Brightec
"The Judges Thought...Brightec sets a powerful benchmark for values-led culture in action. Choosing to protect people under real financial pressure, alongside an employee ownership model and radical transparency, has created exceptional loyalty and performance. The results speak volumes, this is culture truly tested, proven and delivering."
BEST AGENCY TO WORK FOR (MEDIUM - BETWEEN 26 - 50 EMPLOYEES)
Winner 2026
Reboot Online
"The Judges Thought...Reboot Online sets a strong example of a modern, high-performing culture built on trust, structure and accountability. A fully remote model combined with a four-day week and clear progression frameworks supports both performance and wellbeing. Ongoing listening and adaptation ensure a culture that stays connected, collaborative and effective."
BEST AGENCY TO WORK FOR (LARGE – OVER 51 EMPLOYEES)
Winner 2026
emc3
"The Judges Thought...emc3 sets a strong benchmark for a people-first agency at scale, with culture embedded into everyday working life rather than surface-level initiatives. Significant investment in development, clear employee voice and thoughtful integration during growth have created a connected and high-performing environment. With impressive commercial success alongside strong engagement and recognition, this is a compelling example of culture and performance advancing together."
Our Event Sponsors & Partners
Testimonials
I’m so chuffed Sam won Culture Ambassador of the Year at the Culture Awards, it’s such wonderful recognition for all her hard work. She’s been ahead of the game in terms of rolling out an informative, inclusive and innovative program in our business that’s highly regarded by our peers in the sector. The feedback she gets both externally and internally is always excellent and she works hard to help drive DEI initiatives forward in work and in personal time. We’re lucky to have her and will enjoy seeing her fly the Culture Ambassador flag for the next year and beyond.
Michelle Vint Skyrise
We’re incredibly honoured to have been awarded the Best Workplace Health & Wellbeing Awareness Initiative for the second consecutive year. This recognition underscores our unwavering dedication to creating a workplace environment where each team member can thrive both personally and professionally.
Jen Wlodyka Distinctly
Being recognised for our commitment to nurturing an authentically supportive remote company culture has been a wonderful moment of reflection for us as a team, and for us as founders. Applying for the Company Culture Awards provided a unique opportunity to reflect on our practice as a small business, and be recognised for our commitment to growing a happy, healthy, and fulfilled international team.
Abb-d Taiyo
Driftime®
Driftime®
We recognize the importance of building a workplace that puts its employees first, positively impacts the communities it works with and advocates for meaningful change. That’s why we couldn’t be more proud to have been shortlisted for ESG Program of the Year at the UK Company Culture Awards.
Ogury
It’s amazing to think we’re back at the culture awards and we are so excited to be shortlisted in new categories. The culture awards are so important to our team at Skyrise as we really love and believe in the culture we’ve created. It’s what makes us different to other companies so to be shortlisted is a huge team achievement.
Sam Sharwin Skyrise
It is an absolute honour to be shortlisted for the ‘Best Cultural Transformation Initiative’ Award at the 2024 UK Company Culture Awards. This recognition reflects our team’s commitment to cultivating a best-in-class workplace.
Mark Brown WRS
Awards Ceremony
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