Awards spotlight – The UK Employee Experience Awards™ 2026

Now a true staple in the calendars of HR and business professionals in the UK, the UK Employee Experience Awards™ returns for 2026 with 21 categories – each one focussing on different aspects of employee experience.

Aimed at UK-based businesses, the UK Employee Experience Awards™ (or UKEXA™) celebrates employees and their ability to push the limits of best practices and innovation in employee experience – in companies large or small.

Run by industry experts Awards International, The UK Employee Experience Awards™ entry process is in two parts, with the first half of the marks awarded for the 2,000-word written entry. The second half are awarded based on finalists presentations which happen live, before a panel of independent judges. This fair and transparent scoring system is part of the reason the UKEXA™ continues to be both popular and credible. 

Think about the last 12-18 months in your business. What improvements have you made for your most valuable asset – your employees? Perhaps you’ve launched a brand-new wellbeing initiative that’s revolutionised health and wellbeing for your people? Overhauled your flexible and remote working policies and want to celebrate? Maybe your early career or apprenticeship programmes are truly breaking the mould and delivering great outcomes for new starters? Or you’ve delivered a new learning management system, or modernised development strategies? This could be your chance to pick up one of these coveted trophies and celebrate your hard work.

Which category is right for us?

With 21 different categories on offer, you are bound to find some that tick the right boxes for you. With discounts available for multiple entries, it’s worth reviewing the full list. But you can expect categories that focus on health & wellbeing, learning & development, reward & recognition, diversity & inclusion, CSR, flexible working and more.

So let’s explore the categories and criteria…

The awards categories are split into two main sections:

• Leadership & Training – celebrating employee engagement initiatives, staff development programmes, the best leader and team of the year and more.
• Culture & Technology – recognising organisations who have implemented tech and other platforms with success, and prioritised a strong culture.

 You can view more detailed information on the UKEXA™ website, but here’s some information about the categories up for grabs:

“The UK Employee Experience Awards™ entry process is in two parts, with the first half of the marks awarded for the 2,000-word written entry. The second half are awarded based on finalists presentations which happen live, before a panel of independent judges.”

Best use of technology

This category is for companies which have implemented innovative solutions, software, or tools in order to significantly improve HR processes, employee engagement, communication, and overall workplace experience, demonstrating the positive impact of technology in modern work environments.

“The previous winners in the Hall of Fame include some of the biggest names in the UK – last year these included SF Recruitment, Octopus Energy and BUPA Care Services. They were all able to demonstrate a shared commitment – putting people at the heart of everything.”

Leader of the year

This award will go to an exceptional leader who has helped their team thrive in uncertain times. Whether through effective organisation, inspiration or perspiration, the judges will be looking for a leader who cares greatly for their team and has helped bring exceptional results.

How do we enter?

If you’ve read through that list and spotted lots of potential, you need to turn your attention to the all-important award entry process. The entry deadline is 17th April 2026 and the finalists are announced at the end of April. The second-stage presentation finals will take place on 21st May and the awards ceremony is scheduled for 9th July.

Entry fees can be found here, but typically one entry costs £499+VAT with additional entries costing £399+VAT. Or you could take advantage of the four-entry pack offer for £1499+VAT.

As I mentioned, these awards are judged in two parts – with half your marks going to the written entry, and the second half awarded for your live presentations to judges.

Take a good look at the scoring criteria, and make sure that your written entry covers all these points fully. The written entry has six separate scored sections. These sections include your business strategy, what you hoped to achieve through goals and objectives, how you went about planning and implementing your initiative, how you engaged stakeholders, what made it innovative and creative, plus the crucial impact and benefits section

Do also double check your category criteria fully, the EX Practitioner of the Year and Team of the Year categories have slightly different requirements.

We know it can be daunting when you first start writing up your story, but the best advice is to try and keep it as interesting as you can. Judges will likely see lots of entries, usually with similar topics – so what can you do to make yours stand out? How can you keep the attention of the judges? Also – it goes without saying that your entry should be within the wordcount, with no errors!

What next?

Have you looked through this list and feel like you want to win a UKEXA™? Are you already thinking about all the great things you can celebrate about your employee engagement strategy? Perhaps you’ve had a look at the entry form and don’t know where to start – or you’re not sure which category is the best fit? If so, then why not let us help you write up your written submission?  Boost has been working on these awards – and helping our clients win – since these awards launched in 2018! We’d be very happy to help you plan and write your entries. Details of our award entry writing services can be found here.

These awards are likely to be very popular again this year, so please get in touch asap to see how we might be able to help. Our team would be happy to give you a call to help you double-check your chances of success and explain our pricing options. You can contact Boost via our contact form or email directly via info@boost-awards.co.uk.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Milly

Awards spotlight – The UK Employee Experience Awards™ 2026

Now a true staple in the calendars of HR and business professionals in the UK, the UK Employee Experience Awards™ returns for 2026 with 21 categories – each one focussing on different aspects of employee experience.

Aimed at UK-based businesses, the UK Employee Experience Awards™ (or UKEXA™) celebrates employees and their ability to push the limits of best practices and innovation in employee experience – in companies large or small.

Run by industry experts Awards International, The UK Employee Experience Awards™ entry process is in two parts, with the first half of the marks awarded for the 2,000-word written entry. The second half are awarded based on finalists presentations which happen live, before a panel of independent judges. This fair and transparent scoring system is part of the reason the UKEXA™ continues to be both popular and credible. 

Think about the last 12-18 months in your business. What improvements have you made for your most valuable asset – your employees? Perhaps you’ve launched a brand-new wellbeing initiative that’s revolutionised health and wellbeing for your people? Overhauled your flexible and remote working policies and want to celebrate? Maybe your early career or apprenticeship programmes are truly breaking the mould and delivering great outcomes for new starters? Or you’ve delivered a new learning management system, or modernised development strategies? This could be your chance to pick up one of these coveted trophies and celebrate your hard work.

Which category is right for us?

With 21 different categories on offer, you are bound to find some that tick the right boxes for you. With discounts available for multiple entries, it’s worth reviewing the full list. But you can expect categories that focus on health & wellbeing, learning & development, reward & recognition, diversity & inclusion, CSR, flexible working and more.

So let’s explore the categories and criteria…

The awards categories are split into two main sections:

• Leadership & Training – celebrating employee engagement initiatives, staff development programmes, the best leader and team of the year and more.
• Culture & Technology – recognising organisations who have implemented tech and other platforms with success, and prioritised a strong culture.

 You can view more detailed information on the UKEXA™ website, but here’s some information about the categories up for grabs:

“The UK Employee Experience Awards™ entry process is in two parts, with the first half of the marks awarded for the 2,000-word written entry. The second half are awarded based on finalists presentations which happen live, before a panel of independent judges.”

Best employee engagement

The companies that triumph in this category will be those who demonstrate exquisite examples of ways to communicate with their employees, keep them engaged, enthusiastic about work and eager to contribute, with a positive attitude towards the company’s values and purpose, regardless of the location they’re working from.

Best reward & recognition

Recognition programmes are vital to the employee experience: they make team members feel valued and their efforts and hard work and help improve an organisation’s performance. This category celebrates the various ways in which companies honour their employees internally.

Best early careers programme

How do you encourage and nurture early careers in your organisation? This category is for those programmes designed to help employees set their career path by mentoring them and providing resources which allow them to grow, learn and reach their full potential.

Best use of technology

This category is for companies which have implemented innovative solutions, software, or tools in order to significantly improve HR processes, employee engagement, communication, and overall workplace experience, demonstrating the positive impact of technology in modern work environments.

“The previous winners in the Hall of Fame include some of the biggest names in the UK – last year these included SF Recruitment, Octopus Energy and BUPA Care Services. They were all able to demonstrate a shared commitment – putting people at the heart of everything.”

Best employee-driven CSR

This award is for organisations who encourage employees to help their communities. Examples include initiatives ranging from charity fundraising and environmental action, but we welcome entries from any organisation that can show how its people help make the world a better place!

Best learning and development

In a fast-moving world, a company’s success depends on enhancing the skillset of its employees. This category celebrates organisations who deliver exceptional mentorship and apprenticeship programmes, and upskill their employees to ensure they constantly learn and grow in their roles.

Team of the Year

This category celebrates teams that have pulled together to improve processes and enhance business operations, working effectively to ensure that all employees have a fantastic working experience and can contribute to company’s vision, mission and goals.

Leader of the year

This award will go to an exceptional leader who has helped their team thrive in uncertain times. Whether through effective organisation, inspiration or perspiration, the judges will be looking for a leader who cares greatly for their team and has helped bring exceptional results.

How do we enter?

If you’ve read through that list and spotted lots of potential, you need to turn your attention to the all-important award entry process. The entry deadline is 17th April 2026 and the finalists are announced at the end of April. The second-stage presentation finals will take place on 21st May and the awards ceremony is scheduled for 9th July.

Entry fees can be found here, but typically one entry costs £499+VAT with additional entries costing £399+VAT. Or you could take advantage of the four-entry pack offer for £1499+VAT.

As I mentioned, these awards are judged in two parts – with half your marks going to the written entry, and the second half awarded for your live presentations to judges.

Take a good look at the scoring criteria, and make sure that your written entry covers all these points fully. The written entry has six separate scored sections. These sections include your business strategy, what you hoped to achieve through goals and objectives, how you went about planning and implementing your initiative, how you engaged stakeholders, what made it innovative and creative, plus the crucial impact and benefits section

Do also double check your category criteria fully, the EX Practitioner of the Year and Team of the Year categories have slightly different requirements.

We know it can be daunting when you first start writing up your story, but the best advice is to try and keep it as interesting as you can. Judges will likely see lots of entries, usually with similar topics – so what can you do to make yours stand out? How can you keep the attention of the judges? Also – it goes without saying that your entry should be within the wordcount, with no errors!

What next?

Have you looked through this list and feel like you want to win a UKEXA™? Are you already thinking about all the great things you can celebrate about your employee engagement strategy? Perhaps you’ve had a look at the entry form and don’t know where to start – or you’re not sure which category is the best fit? If so, then why not let us help you write up your written submission?  Boost has been working on these awards – and helping our clients win – since these awards launched in 2018! We’d be very happy to help you plan and write your entries. Details of our award entry writing services can be found here.

These awards are likely to be very popular again this year, so please get in touch asap to see how we might be able to help. Our team would be happy to give you a call to help you double-check your chances of success and explain our pricing options. You can contact Boost via our contact form or email directly via info@boost-awards.co.uk.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Milly

Boost – a helping hand entering awards

Boost Awards is the world’s first and largest award entry consultancy, having helped clients – from SMEs to Multinationals – win over 2,500 credible business awards. Uniquely we have a whole team of in-house writers, graphic designers and awards experts to give you maximum support when entering awards. Increase your chances of success significantly – call Boost on +44(0)1273 258703 today for a no-obligation chat about awards.

(C) This article was written by Milly Bones and is the intellectual property of award entry consultants Boost Awards. Images used with the kind permission of UK Employee Experience Awards, who sponsored this content.