WE'RE BACK!
Before the dust had even settled on our first awards ceremony we realised… people wanted more! And who are we not to deliver?! The energy, pride, and passion in the room made it clear: our profession deserves to be celebrated - loudly and often!
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2026 FINALISTS...
TIMETABLE
Shortlist announced:
Thursday 2 April 2026
Judging:
Thursday 16 April 2026
HR Awards in Wales:
Friday 1 May 2026
MEET THE PARTNERS
Louise Price
Partner, Head of Employment and HR Services - Hugh James
Mera Mann
Director - Human Resourcing
Lesley Richards
Director - Lesley Richards Limited / Founder - HR in Wales
Paul Harris
Director - Skylite Associates
SHORTLIST
Entrants were asked to evidence an outstanding contribution within a specific area of people management and/or development which reflected our four judging pillars:
- Creativity and innovation: fresh, forward-thinking approaches
- Impact: qualitative and quantitative evidence of impact on people and the business
- Strategic alignment: initiatives clearly embedded into core HR and business strategy
- Sustainability: long-term thinking, vision, and outcomes
It has been very difficult to whittle the incredible number of submissions down to a manageable shortlist due to the outstanding quality of the work that was shared with us. Thank you to all those who entered, and congratulations to those who have made it through to the next stage.
Employee Engagement
Sponsored by Hoop Professional Services and HR
Atradius - Atradius
Cartrefi Cymru Cooperative - Kudos: Celebrating People, Elevating Culture
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board - Turning Staff Voice into Measurable Impact: The CTM People Plan Transformation
Health Education and Improvement Wales - Developing the NHS Wales People Profession: A Once for Wales Approach to Talent, Capability and System Transformation
HPMA Cymru - Reframing the Future: NHS Wales' AI Workforce Engagement Programme
Rocialle Healthcare - People & Engagement
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Sponsored by Monmouthshire Building Society
Bangor University - Neurodiversity Support: Colourful Minds
Cardiff Community Housing Association - Supporting all colleagues by embracing neurodiversity
LBS Builders Merchants - Not Exclusive
Valleys to Coast - Building inclusion that lasts
WJEC/CBAC - Continuous Improvement: ED&I project
Individual Impact
Sponsored by the CIPD
Ann Rowley - Lighthouse HR
Dr Ioan Rees - SYCOL
Emma del Torto - Effective HRM
Gemma Littlejohns - Siderise
Matt Coles - Bangor University
Rosie Sweetman - Sweetmans and Partners with Williams Medical Supplies
Sian Fisher - Confident Style Academy
Universal Coaching Alliance Wales
Learning and Development
Sponsored by ACT and ALS
Cardiff Community Housing Association - "Grow Your Own" strategy
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board - From Banter to Boundaries
HPMA Cymru - Future-Ready Workforce: HPMA Cymru's AI Learning & Development Series
S4C S4C/Campus: An Internal Academy Built for a Workforce, Not a Crisis
Sweetmans and Partners with Sero - Partners for purpose
Siderise - Leadership Development
Talent Management
Sponsored by Human Resourcing
Bipsync - Talent Management
Freshwater - Talent Management
St John Ambulance Cymru - Volunteer Recruitment
Welsh Local Government Association - Careers in 360
Transformation and Change
Supported by Welsh Government
Codi Group - Colleague Offer Programme
Health Education and Improvement Wales - Leading Safe AI Transformation in NHS Wales: Building a Digitally Confident Workforce Through HALI
Mrs Buckét Cleaning Services - Digital Transformation of HR, Payroll & Time & Attendance
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council - A Last Resort: Transforming Disciplinary Practice to Reduce Avoidable Harm
S4C - Rebuilding Culture from the Ground Up
St John Ambulance Cymru - Resourcing and workforce planning
WCVA - Leading and navigating change
Wellbeing
Sponsored by HSF Health Plan
Codi Group - Wellbeing at Codi Group
Creditsafe Business Solutions Limited - From Pressure to Performance: Embedding Wellbeing into Business Strategy
Cwm Taf Morganwwg University Health Board - CTM's Big Team Challenge
First Choice Housing Association Wellbeing that works , supporting every part of our peoples lives
Freshwater - Wellbeing at Freshwater
Rising star of the profession
Sponsored by Vester Group
Alex Davies - Siderise
Emily Summerhayes - Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
Harry Underhill - Creditsafe
Jen Walters - Principality Building Society
Sadie Govier - Cardiff Airport
Sophie Cole - ACT Training
Tammi Jones - Effective HRM
Toni Louise Davies - HMPA Cymru / NHS Wales
Excellence in HR Leadership
Sponsored by Lesley Richards Limited and Skylite Associates
Angela Overment - St John Ambulance Cymru
Angie Lewis - Welsh Ambulances Services Trust
Kate Ablett - Mrs Bucket Cleaning Services
Nadine Beaton - S4C
Simon Argent - Vishay Newport
If you remember the days of the CIPD in Wales awards, you'll know that I agonised over my choice of host.
Back then, I wanted someone Welsh, but who my CIPD colleagues in London would recognise, and who had some connection with the world of HR.
I have a different strategy for the HR in Wales awards, giving the opportunity to people who don't normally feature on the list of potential hosts (don't get me wrong… I still LOVE Jason Mohammad!), but who should be…. and who have a story to tell that fits in with the people profession.
This year, we welcome former Cardiff, Exeter Chiefs, Ospreys, Wales and Lions star Alex Cuthbert. Alex's journey through elite sport brings many valuable lessons for HR leaders: building resilience, leading through pressure and change, dealing with the lows of social media, and turning that into a positive as he reinvents himself after his recent retirement.
Meet the judges
Our judges represent some of the very best in the profession in Wales.
We're grateful for the insight, expertise, credibility, passion, time and commitment that they bring to the Awards.
Scroll through our gallery below!
MEET OUR SPONSORS
Thanks to our generous sponsors - we couldn't deliver this event with you!
SOLD OUT
AWARDS LUNCH
Join us for an afternoon (and if last year is anything to go by, evening and night!) of recognition, inspiration, and networking as we champion the dedication, creativity, and impact of people professionals across Wales.
Dress code: Dress up to celebrate, or "dress down Friday" - we don't mind!