Ethical, transparent and respected, the awards are judged by esteemed industry experts who follow a robust two-step judging process that includes pre-scoring to establish a shortlist and judge discussion to determine winners and, in some cases, silver awards.
None of our award judges can take part in the competition, and any conflicts of interest must be declared.
The UK Company Culture Awards have been accredited ‘Outstanding’ by the Independent Awards Standards Council – Awards Trust Mark.
To apply to become a judge, fill out the form at the bottom of this page.
David Carrasco embarked on his SEO journey when the field was still emerging, with no courses or masters available, learning through the trenches by exploring, experimenting, and innovating. With over a decade of experience in SEO, he has participated in an extensive range of projects, offering support to a multitude of clients. In recent years, he served as the CEO of a Spanish PR and link-building tool, a company he founded and later sold. Currently, he works as a freelance SEO Product Manager, leveraging his knowledge and experience in web positioning, growth, development, and business strategies. As a prolific content creator, he engages in producing audio, video, and written content. This not only provides a platform to connect with new people but also fuels his ongoing journey of learning and discovery. Why not connect?
Tom Kegode | Future of Work & Culture Strategist | Spark Shift | LinkedIn | SparkShift
Tom Kegode is obsessed with helping leaders and teams spark shifts that create future-ready cultures. With 15+ years of experience in People Innovation, he’s passionate about removing barriers and building workplaces that inspire peak performance.
James Crawley | Senior Lecturer in Enterprise Practice | Manchester Metropolitan University
James Crawley is a Senior Lecturer in Enterprise Practice at Manchester Metropolitan University. He works at the intersection of academia, industry and policy, supporting SMEs to engage with emerging technologies such as AI, immersive technologies and cybersecurity. His programmes focus on practical innovation, helping organisations move from curiosity to implementation through cohort-based learning, industry collaboration and real-world experimentation.
Louise Terzza | CEO | Time Together
An experienced leader in the VCSE sector Louise is dedicated to championing inclusion and enabling others to realise their inner potential; she is currently CEO of charity Time Together leading a creative and caring team supporting disabled and autistic people to live life well. Passionate about the importance of giving back to your community, Louise volunteers her time as Chair of Governors for a local primary school, Trustee and Treasurer of youth charity Inspire Youth Yorkshire, and as a mentor to emerging leaders through Community First Yorkshire. Louise’s enthusiasm for giving back underpins her belief in the transformative power of inclusive community involvement as a catalyst for positive change.
Matteo Violi | Co-founder | Rebel Panda | LinkedIn |
Matteo is a People & Culture strategist who works at the intersection of strategy, culture, and behaviour to help teams and organisations become places where people and purpose thrive together. With experience across the charity, public, and private sectors, he has partnered with leaders and teams on engagement, transformation, and building people & organisational effectiveness. Matteo is one of the founders of Rebel Panda, where he focuses on supporting organisations and leaders growing cultures that are energising, human-centred, and capable of delivering meaningful impact.
Nick Rusling | CEO | City Wellbeing Series Ltd
Bedford Thomas | Head of People | Two Circles
Laura Hothersall | Director | Truth
Laura Hothersall has extensive experience in fostering outstanding workplace cultures. As MD at Clicky Media, Laura was instrumental in shaping employee engagement and driving organisational change from the early days of agency growth to the established agency that Clicky is today. Laura now runs her business wearetruth.org - helping businesses achieve Bcorp certification, Laura has worked with multiple sectors to help them with their DEI, recruitment, employee engagement strategies to get them 'Bcorp ready'. With a career spanning 27 years, Laura has worked with leading organisations to implement innovative people strategies, enhance employee experience, and embed company values into everyday business operations. Their passion for workplace culture, leadership development, and employee wellbeing makes them a valuable judge for the UK Company Culture Awards. Laura believes that a strong company culture is the foundation of sustainable business success and is excited to celebrate organisations that are making a real impact.
Amy Kean
Daniel Saunders | Director of Digital | Evergreen Finance London
I've worked in Digital for 18 years. Within Digital marketing I work closely with the directors and heads of service to identify new business opportunities and Strategies. Having an in-depth understanding of different markets and competitors in the area to maintain a competitive advantage which is used to work alongside key stakeholders in managing the translation of the business strategy into clear plans. Proactively researching markets, competitors within different regions and establishing ways to develop a competitive advantage within our strategies. Within Stanley Black and Decker, I am a catalyst for change, I plan and execute UK market E-commerce and digital marketing activities to increase sales, grow online channels, and grow new and existing online customers managing substantial 6 figures budgets over many different groups. As an international keynote speaker in the Digital sphere, I inspire and lead a large team of specialists, drive the delivery of brilliant digital products and services, mentoring at levels from executives to C suite. I utilize analytics and insight tools to evaluate end-to-end customer experience across multiple customer touch points. Working with trade marketing teams to analyse product categories and make appropriate product mix recommendations and effectively contributes to SEO, PPC, UX and CRO. I have built, nurtured and lead a diverse, multidisciplinary team to deliver digital transformation across the Stanley Black and Decker group. Defining the required digital capabilities across our people, their processes, and the technology we use. With Stanley Black and Decker being a multinational corporation, I make myself a visible leader by holding regular lectures and Q and A sessions with entry executives all the way up to C suite teams.
Lizzie Benton | Culture Coach | Liberty Mind
Lizzie Benton is a culture specialist who supports organisations and businesses in developing purpose-driven workplaces and more autonomous teams. Lizzie has been recognised as one of the top 30 millennials changing the world of work and has been featured on BBC News, in The Metro, HuffingtonPost, Forbes and the Financial Times. Lizzie is best known for her honest approach to workplace evolution and believes in building more organisations that support our human potential. Lizzie has worked across multiple sectors to develop their ways of working. Sectors include advertising and marketing, technology, construction, charities and not-for- profits. Lizzie's skills and training is based in new ways of working and self-managed organisations. She has trained in the Netherlands and with leading change-makers to learn from those who are leading the movement in progressive work. Lizzie also hosts Make it Thrive: The Company Culture Podcast where each season she interviews experts and organisations doing things radically different.
Kristen Buckheit
Davina Lines | Managing Director | Ecommerce Club
Davina Lines is Managing Director of Mixing Digital and the Ecommerce Club. She brings a wealth of knowledge and a big black book of digital contacts to ensure Mixing Digital’s event management services are of the highest standard. Davina co-founded Netimperative in 1999 and became Managing Director in 2002, stewarding the brand into new product launches and creating one of the most successful events programmes in the digital marketing industry. In the mid 90s Davina cut her digital teeth on New Media Age (now Econsultancy), forming part of the founding team and was responsible for the commercial development of the magazine and its early events from launch in May 1995 to 1999. In recent years Davina launched an ecommerce peer-to-peer community, the Ecommerce Club, which runs regular events in London and Manchester on topics relevant to the retail community.
Kerstin Andlaw | Founder & Consultant Coach | Thrive as One Consulting
Kerstin Andlaw is a seasoned expert in company culture and employee engagement, with a distinguished career dedicated to fostering human-centred, high value-creating and dynamic workplaces. With extensive experience across various industries and organisations, Kerstin has successfully implemented strategies that enhance employee satisfaction and organisational performance. As a judge for the UK Company Culture Awards, Kerstin brings invaluable insights and a passion for recognising organisations that excel in cultivating exceptional work environments.
Paul Wilshaw | Founder and CEO | Designed for Humans
Over the last decade, Paul has carved out a niche as a beacon of innovation and strategic leadership in the digital realm. The creation of award-winning digital products and steering start-ups towards uncharted territories with a blend of creativity and technology. A relentless drive to foster change is at the heart of Paul’s success. This has manifested in the formation of high-calibre creative and technology departments, nurturing teams to thrive, and empowering performances that not only meet but exceed business goals. Paul is a vocal champion for harnessing technology to unravel complex business challenges, and he thrives on collaboration with both internal and external partners to craft solutions that are consistent, accessible, and ground-breaking. To Paul, diversity and inclusion are more than buzzwords; they are essential pillars that drive organisational progress Paul is dedicated to championing initiatives that foster an inclusive environment and break down barriers, embedding a forward-thinking culture at every level.
Stephen Waddington | Director | Wadds Inc
Stephen Waddington is the founder and managing partner of Wadds Inc, a professional advisory firm for agencies and communications teams, and a co-founder of Socially Mobile Community Interest Company. He is pursuing a PhD at Leeds Business School, underscoring his commitment to advancing the industry's understanding of public relations through academic research. Waddington originally trained as an engineer. His interest in technology and its communicative aspects led him to a career in public relations. He has worked for The Economist, HM Government, Intel, Microsoft, The Press Association, NHS, Tesco and Virgin Media Business clients. He has written and edited ten books, including Brand Anarchy, Exploring Public Relations and Management Communication and Share This, and served as President of the CIPR.
20 years agency experience: early employed, co-founder and founder. I have started, grown and developed digital agency businesses both organically and operated within Venture Capital. Commercially experienced in pricing, revenue alignment & management; sales and marketing strategic development, forecasting, goals and objectives and crucially help drive people strategy to fit growth and development plans. The strength and performance within a business, is directly related to engaged, happy people who truly understand their purpose.
Rejoice Ojiaku | Award Winning Diversity & Inclusion Advocate
Rejoice has worked within digital marketing (SEO) for 4+ years. After finishing her master’s degree in marketing at The University of Manchester, she started her journey as a Junior SEO Executive and is now an SEO Manager as well as the Co-Founder & Content Lead for B-DigitalUK. She specialises in Content SEO and she has spoken at BrightonSEO, Whitespark Local Search Summit as well as participated in webinars for FounderVine, Majestic, Noisy Little Monkey etc. Additionally, she is also an Award-Winning Diversity & Inclusion Advocate as she is passionate about Diversity & Inclusion within the workplace to ensure the perspective and struggles of Black people are heard.
Clare Sweeney | Consultant | Keepace.Consults
Isobel Wilson-Cleary | Communications and engagement strategist | University of Birmingham
Isobel is a communications strategist, specialising in research and policy communications, stakeholder engagement and partnerships. Isobel has spent the past 15 years leading, advising and mentoring teams to create impactful communications campaigns and interventions to change behaviours and inform policy decision-making on issues such as early childhood education, inequalities and global health. Isobel is a Board Member for We Don't Settle, a youth-focused arts and heritage organisation, and sits on the University of Leeds' Horizons Institute Advisory Board.
Nadya specializes in transformation at the intersection of operations, people, and technology. With a background spanning marketing, strategy, digital transformation, stakeholder engagement, and operational excellence, she leads change initiatives that enhance organizational agility, build capabilities, and strengthen execution. With over 18 years of experience, Nadya has driven multimillion-dollar business transformations for global brands including NEOM, HBO Max, Nissan, and Cartier. She has a proven track record of leading high-performing teams across GCC, Africa, the Far East, and Europe.
Nafisa Shafiq
Paul Jones-Nolan | Group People Director | San Carlo
Paul Jones-Nolan is a people and culture leader with nearly three decades of experience in Human Resources across the hospitality sector. He currently serves as Group People Director at San Carlo Restaurant Group, where he leads the strategic development of talent, employee engagement, structure, and inclusion initiatives for one of the UK’s most respected Italian hospitality brands. San Carlo operates over 25 restaurants nationwide and continues to grow its international presence while fostering a people-first culture grounded in long-standing employee loyalty and strong staff retention. Paul’s approach blends operational insight with strategic HR leadership, shaped by an early career in hotel operations and nearly 25 years of hands-on experience in employee relations, talent development, performance management, and DE&I. He is recognised within the industry not only for driving impactful people strategies but also for championing inclusive workplaces, most recently being named among the 2025 LGBTQ+ Hospitality Champions for his advocacy and leadership in building supportive, diverse work environments. At San Carlo, Paul has implemented everything from bespoke training platforms to culture-enhancing programmes. His leadership continues to strengthen San Carlo’s culture as the business innovates and expands in the ever-evolving hospitality landscape.
Valentina Hynes | Founder and CEO | SVH Inc. CIC | LinkedIn | X Profile |
Valentina Hynes, Founder and Director of SVH Inc. CIC, stands at the forefront of workplace wellbeing innovation in the UK. Her company, celebrated for its comprehensive wellbeing services, reflects her deep-seated commitment to employee welfare and mental health. Valentina’s leadership has earned her notable recognitions, including Business Woman of The Year at the Yorkshire Choice Awards and an Associate Fellowship from The Royal Commonwealth Society. A frequent speaker on topics such as happiness, diversity and inclusion in the workplace, she brings a wealth of experience and insight. Under her guidance, SVH Inc. CIC champions progressive practices like Mental Health First Aid training and unique Away Day experiences. A resilient entrepreneur who has overcome personal challenges, Valentina is passionate about creating Strong Vibrant Happy communities.
Chantel Hayward | Founder and Director | Fox & Fable
Chantel is a seasoned HR professional and executive coach, with over 17 years of expertise in supporting organisations to thrive. Her experience spans SMEs and global businesses across the private, public and not for profit sectors. As the founder and director of Fox & Fable, Chantel specialises in partnering with creative agencies across the marketing and advertising industry to craft exceptional employee experiences, foster engaged and high performing teams and prioritise wellbeing as a foundation for success. A Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, an ILM Level 7 Executive Coach and Mentor and a certified Mental Health First Aider, Chantel is dedicated to empowering leaders and organisations to unlock potential, nurture balance and build workplaces whereby people and performance flourish together.
Alya partners with organisations and individuals to build purpose-led, inclusive, and resilient cultures. Working across a wide range of sectors - from tech and manufacturing to sports and the public sector - she focuses on setting the foundations right so that purpose, alignment, and belonging are woven into the DNA of a business from the start, rather than being an add-on. Whether she’s coaching a first-time leader, helping a company define its mission, or consulting on DEI, Alya focuses on sustainable change that aligns with who the people are. Before freelancing, Alya spent 7 years leading culture and DEI initiatives in the media industry across the UK and Australia. There, she used data-driven insights to build environments where people can thrive, listening to what people needed to deliver strategies that worked for both the business and the individual. She is also a board member for Drinks United- a joint initiative between the Drinks Trust, the WSET, and the WSTA to create a safer and more equitable drinks industry. With a background in hospitality as a Certified Sommelier, she is also on a mission to make wine more approachable, more fun, and a whole lot easier to understand.
Rumyana Miteva | Performance Marketing Director | Deliveroo
Rumyana is currently a Performance Marketing Director at Deliveroo. She is leading a global team of Paid Search, Display & Video, Paid Social and Affiliate specialists, who are delivering growth for the company through a rigorous test & learn agenda. With more than 14+ years in Digital Marketing Rumyana has expert knowledge and valuable experience helping brands acquire & retain customers through Paid Media channels. Outside of work Rumyana enjoys being a Digital Consultant for small businesses, mentoring young professionals and sharing her knowledge by speaking at events.
Olivia Brook | Marketing Operations Director | University of Warwick
Olivia Brook is experienced in finding the sweet spot between global brand and local resonance and relevance. With years of experience in the corporate, academic and start-up universes, Olivia has a passion for getting projects over the line, helping individuals to shine and teams to succeed. She strives for the ‘knocking it out the park’ feeling and is energised by the challenge and reward of marketing across borders, cultures and different audiences.
Hannah Allwright is an experienced event operator and community builder whose background spans television, film, red-carpet premieres, and startup operations. She has delivered complex, high-visibility projects, including project managing a Social Impact venture supported by NatWest. Alongside her role as Community Associate, she runs a wedding coordination business, hosts Offline Club events across London, and founded a nonprofit monthly Hike Club, building a thriving outdoor community over the past three years. She specialises in community building, partnerships, and event production, and is passionate about mission-led, experience-driven organisations.
Erin Portsmouth | Associate Director of Strategy Planning and Development (Oldham) | NHS Greater Manchester
Erin is a Chartered public relations practitioner who worked for ten years in private sector marketing and communications consultancies, and for the past fifteen years has worked in the National Health Service. She is currently Associate Director of Strategy, Planning and Development for the Oldham team within NHS Greater Manchester, where she oversees a strategic portfolio that also includes communications, engagement, public affairs, equality and diversity, organisational development and governance. She has a Masters degree in public relations, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and served on the CIPR North West Group Committee as a volunteer for ten years, also holding a three year term as Chair. She was appointed to the Board of Trustees of homelessness charity Emmaus Salford in 2017 undertaking their Company Secretary role, and is a volunteer Board Director and Trustee of Oldham Community Leisure.
Tiago is an experienced Manager with +25 years of experience in the areas of marketing, sales and retail, having worked in companies such as adidas, Jeronimo Martins, Sonae and FNAC. He has worked for adidas as Portugal Marketing Director and as Director of Brand Activation for the regions of Africa and the Middle East (MENA) where he received many media, activation and retail awards. He also as been part of several jury panels in marketing awards events on the region. A true team player, he has extensive national and international experience in various business areas so he feels at home anywhere on the globe, and in any kind of project. Always pioneering in the use of new technologies to the business world, he took on gamification as his latest challenge in 2017, currently leading Gamification startups in both Portugal and the UK. He achieved is Bachelors in Management in Portugal, followed by an MBA with Marketing focus in the UK. More recently he concluded a Post-Graduation Diploma in Retail Management and another in Arts Markets and Collections. He is also a long time Member of the CIM (MCIM) and (believe it or not!) a Chartered Accountant.
Janet Houlis | Change, EDI & HR Management Consultant | VALO Consultancy
Janet Houlis is an accomplished business leader who combines commercial aptitude with a people-centric approach to deliver change, improve services, and achieve unparalleled customer excellence within organisations. A Board member, Advisor and HR Professional with a breath of experience working Nationally & Internationally within Operations, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (EDI&B), Change & Transformation. Janet has a proven track record in directing change interventions, steering strategic planning and execution across multi-disciplined international communities, supporting both large corporates and SMEs within highly regulated environments. She has championed diversity and inclusion throughout her career, supporting clients in taking meaningful steps on their EDI, Belonging and anti-racism journeys, ensuring employees remain at the heart of their business. Janet is a trained People Professional, Coach and Mentor. A member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (MCIPD), and a Women on Boards Member.
Steve Kuncewicz | Head Of Creative, Digital & Marketing | Glaisyers ETL | X Profile
Steve is a Partner and Head of Creative, Digital and Marketing at Glaisyers ETL in Manchester. He specialises in intellectual property, media social media and privacy law and is listed as a "recommended lawyer" in the Legal 500, and was a oo-founder pf the Bulletproof Agency Network. He is a regular media spokesperson, and has given interviews to the local and national press through BBC Breakfast, Sky News, ITV, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live and LBC London. Steve is also the Manchester Publicity Association’s Honorary Solicitor.
Dr Michelle Gledhill | MRT Employability Lead/Senior Lecturer | MMU
Dr Michelle Gledhill is a marketing communications expert, specialising in advertising and branding. Her PhD explored how gamers process brands in a videogaming context and this was included in the European Marketing Academy 2020 and Academy of Marketing 2022. She led the MSc Creative Advertising Strategy for 13 years and is currently engaged in developing relationships with industry to create opportunities and jobs for students. She applies her expertise in strategic thinking when working in consultation on live briefs with brands such as Manchester City, the Happy Linen Company, Manchester Gin and Castore. She has taught on corporate programmes for Tesco, Booths and Digital Marketer Degree Apprenticeships. She is a highly experienced marketer, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), CIM Senior Examiner and HE Examiner.
Andy Green | Founder | AndyGreenCreativity
Andy Green FCIPR FRSA is cofounder of the Dublin Conversations, the Modern Cockney Festival, and wrote 21years ago, the very first book on ‘Creativity in Public Relations’. He is a consultant in identifying purpose, brand storytelling, creativity, and managing Fake Purpose to enable his clients to fulfil their greater potential and make the most of opportunities. He is also a part-time university lecturer. Andy has written six books, translated into eight languages and believing inspiration can come from the unlikeliest of sources, even runs creativity classes on the London Tube.
Gary combines deep real-world experience as a senior leader, and as an HR, OD and L&D professional with contemporary research, insight and humour to help organisations build workplaces that genuinely work for their people and their performance. He has led people functions and major transformation across multiple sectors and now runs EPIC-partnering with organisations to improve leadership, culture, capability and organisational health. Gary is a multi-published author, including HR for Hybrid Working(2022), Making Hybrid Working Work(2025) and The Squeezed Middle (2026). He is a recognised voice in the HR/L&D/OD communities, frequently speaking at national and international conferences, contributing to industry publications and being part of the ongoing conversation about leadership, organisational effectiveness and the future of work. He’s also a father of four and husband of one, so he understands the very human reality behind modern work.
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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®
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 Company Culture Awards. This recognition reflects our team’s commitment to cultivating a best-in-class workplace.Mark Brown WRS
This award recognition provided an opportunity to step back and reflect on the culture we have built together and the role it has played in shaping the business today. Outsourced Events
Being shortlisted for two awards is a meaningful moment for everyone. It reflects the effort that has gone into building a team environment where people feel supported, trusted and able to contribute with confidence, and that’s a credit to the whole team here. Launch
Being shortlisted for these awards means so much to us and to our wider committee, it’s a meaningful recognition of everyone’s hard work and dedication. We’re incredibly proud of the culture we’ve created together and even prouder to see it continue to grow and thrive. FunnelFuel
Being shortlisted at the Company Culture Awards means being recognised for everyone’s continued efforts to produce brilliant work for our clients without compromising social lives, personal successes, and rest. It means recognising innovation in a world where ‘remote’ or ‘work-from-home’ is often hotly debated and sometimes seen as less productive or even lazy. Bamboo
