Northern Ireland’s top employers and HR teams revealed in CIPD Awards shortlist

The CIPD has announced the shortlist for its 2025 Northern Ireland Awards, recognising more than 30 employers and HR teams who are leading the way in shaping better work and working lives. The awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of HR professionals and people teams who play a leading role in delivering workplace initiatives and strategies to better support employees and improve business performance.  
 
The winners, across 14 categories including flexible working, wellbeing initiatives, and digital transformation, will be announced on 6 March 2025, in Belfast. 

Leading winners shortlisted across the categories include:  

• Collins Aerospace, Northern Ireland Water, and Thales - recognised for excellence in multiple categories including ‘Best HR/OD/L&D team’   

• ASCERT and CATAGEN Ltd - shortlisted for innovative flexible working strategies  

• Almac Group Ltd, Catalyst, Collins Aerospace, Department for Communities, along with Northern Ireland Hospice, Simon Community NI and The Cedar Foundation all - acknowledged for impactful wellbeing initiatives  

• HSC Leadership Centre, The Academy at Operate, PwC and Police Service of Northern Ireland – all recognised for digital HR innovation  

People teams that have played a pivotal role in helping their organisation achieve its business objectives and bolster workplace support for their people are in the running for the Best HR/OD/L&D Team accolade. These include Collins Aerospace, Education Authority NI and Northern Ireland Hospice, along with Northern Ireland Water, Thales, and NIE Networks. 

The full shortlist for the CIPD Awards in Northern Ireland, 2025 

Best apprenticeship scheme 

• 3173 

• Labour Relations Agency 

• PwC 

• Thales 

Best digital and technology initiative in HR/L&D 

• HSC Leadership Centre  

• Police Service of Northern Ireland 

• The Academy at Operate, PwC  

Best employee experience programme (sponsored by Labour Relations Agency): 

• Collins Aerospace 

• Education Authority NI 

• Musgrave 

• Northern Ireland Water  

Best equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiative (sponsored by Lewis Silkin): 

• Belfast Harbour Commissioners 

• Collins Aerospace 

• First Derivative 

• Musgrave 

• Northern Ireland Screen  

Best flexible working strategy (sponsored by Worthingtons Solicitors):  

• ASCERT 

• CATAGEN Ltd 

Best health and wellbeing initiative 

• Almac Group Ltd 

• Catalyst 

• Collins Aerospace  

• Department for Communities 

• Northern Ireland Hospice 

• Simon Community NI 

• The Cedar Foundation 

Best HR student (sponsored by Queen’s University Belfast): 

• Jaye Nangle, The LYCRA Company 

• John Kelso-Mason, Ulster University 

• Laura McMahon, Simon Community NI 

• Rachael Crockard, Sensata Technologies 

• Rachel Dorovatas, CITB NI 

Best HR/L&D and OD consultant/consultancy (sponsored by Timely Careers):  

• LMK Consultancy  

• Scott Robinson, Independent consultant 

Best HR/L&D/OD team (sponsored by Danske Bank): 

• Collins Aerospace 

• Education Authority NI 

• NIE Networks 

• Northern Ireland Hospice 

• Northern Ireland Water 

• Thales 

Best learning and development initiative (sponsored by Hunter Savage): 

• Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council 

• Collins Aerospace  

• First Derivative 

• Northern Ireland Water 

Best resourcing and talent strategy 

• Education Authority NI 

• Ocorian Services (UK) Ltd 

Best people management in an SME (sponsored by DMS Ireland): 

• Continu 

• Weev 

Rising Star of the people profession (sponsored by AAB People): 

• Caiti O’Neill, Finnebrogue 

• Ella Wyse, ASCERT 

• Katherine Young, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council 

• Laura McMaster, Leprino Foods 

Celebrate the winners with Emer Maguire, on 6 March 2025 

The winners of the CIPD Awards in Northern Ireland 2025 will be announced on 6 March 2025 at the Titanic Belfast. The awards ceremony will be hosted by Emer Maguire, Northern Ireland’s brightest new comedy star.