Awards spotlight – The UK Employee Experience Awards™ 2024

Now a true staple in the calendars of HR and business professionals in the UK, the UK Employee Experience Awards™ returns for 2024 with 18 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™ has been consistently accredited with the prestigious Outstanding Awards Trust Mark from the Independent Awards Standards Council.

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 18 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 three main sections:

• EX classics – celebrating the key elements of a world-class EX strategy.
• EX spotlight – recognising particular industries and practices that are shaping the EX future
• EX champions – honouring individuals and teams who are essential for EX success

 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 strategy

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 employee experience journey

This category is for the organisations that excel in crafting a seamless and impactful journey for their employees. It celebrates those who design and implement exceptional touchpoints throughout an employee’s lifecycle, from recruitment to offboarding, fostering a positive and enriching work experience at every step.

“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 early careers or apprenticeship 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 applied technology or solution

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.

Best CSR strategy

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!

Diversity and inclusion

Modern businesses need teams that reflect the diverse nature of our society, and there has been a much-needed drive towards diversity and inclusion in recent years. This award recognises organisations that have implemented programmes to make their workplaces more representative, welcoming and inclusive for all employees.

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.

EX practitioner of the year

This category is for exceptional professionals who have made noteworthy contributions to the field. It acknowledges individuals who have demonstrated exemplary skills and dedication in designing, implementing, and advancing employee experience strategies, ultimately enriching workplace culture and fostering employee well-being and satisfaction.

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 February 16th 2024 and the finalists are announced in March. The second-stage presentation finals will take place on May 22nd and the awards ceremony is scheduled for May 23rd – with ‘The State of EX Conference’ happening at the same time.

Entry fees can be found here, but typically one entry costs £549+VAT with additional entries costing £399+VAT. Or you could take advantage of the four-entry pack offer for £1449+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™ 2024

Now a true staple in the calendars of HR and business professionals in the UK, the UK Employee Experience Awards™ returns for 2024 with 18 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™ has been consistently accredited with the prestigious Outstanding Awards Trust Mark from the Independent Awards Standards Council.

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 18 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 three main sections:

• EX classics – celebrating the key elements of a world-class EX strategy.
• EX spotlight – recognising particular industries and practices that are shaping the EX future
• EX champions – honouring individuals and teams who are essential for EX success

 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 Company to work for – large company

This award is for organisations with more than 250 employees that have done outstanding work in creating a fulfilling and rewarding work environment. Show us why your employees feel cherished, and how you are ensuring a good working atmosphere and long-term growth for them.

Best Company to work for – SME

This award is for organisations with fewer than 250 employees that have done outstanding work in creating a fulfilling and rewarding work environment. Show us why your employees feel cherished, and how you are ensuring a good working atmosphere and long-term growth for them.

Best employee-centric approach

This category recognises organisations that prioritise their workforce’s well-being, development, and engagement. It applauds companies that implement innovative strategies, policies, and initiatives to create a supportive and inclusive workplace culture, fostering employee satisfaction, retention, and overall success.

Best employee engagement strategy

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 employee experience journey

This category is for the organisations that excel in crafting a seamless and impactful journey for their employees. It celebrates those who design and implement exceptional touchpoints throughout an employee’s lifecycle, from recruitment to offboarding, fostering a positive and enriching work experience at every step.

“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 culture transformation and change management

This category acknowledges companies that demonstrate outstanding proficiency in driving cultural change. It’s for the organisations that effectively plan, execute, and sustain transformation initiatives, fostering a culture of innovation, adaptability, and employee engagement, resulting in positive outcomes for both the workforce and the company.

Best flexible or remote working

The last few years have seen a revolution in flexible working, allowing employees to work from home and giving them greater freedom in choosing their office hours. This award is for organisations whose flexible working arrangements bring out the best in their staff, allowing them to improve their work-life balance and deliver better results.

Best benefits and rewards scheme

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 or apprenticeship 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 applied technology or solution

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.

Best CSR strategy

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!

Health and wellbeing

The pandemic has reminded organisations of the critical importance of employee health and wellbeing, not only physical and mental, but also social and financial. Show us how you help your employees be as healthy and happy as possible.

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.

Diversity and inclusion

Modern businesses need teams that reflect the diverse nature of our society, and there has been a much-needed drive towards diversity and inclusion in recent years. This award recognises organisations that have implemented programmes to make their workplaces more representative, welcoming and inclusive for all employees.

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.

EX practitioner of the year

This category is for exceptional professionals who have made noteworthy contributions to the field. It acknowledges individuals who have demonstrated exemplary skills and dedication in designing, implementing, and advancing employee experience strategies, ultimately enriching workplace culture and fostering employee well-being and satisfaction.

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.

Rising star award

The Rising Star Award recognises emerging talents in the field who exhibit exceptional promise and innovation. It celebrates individuals who have made early but impactful contributions to enhancing employee engagement, workplace culture, and overall employee experience, highlighting their potential as future leaders in this critical domain.

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 February 16th 2024 and the finalists are announced in March. The second-stage presentation finals will take place on May 22nd and the awards ceremony is scheduled for May 23rd – with ‘The State of EX Conference’ happening at the same time.

Entry fees can be found here, but typically one entry costs £549+VAT with additional entries costing £399+VAT. Or you could take advantage of the four-entry pack offer for £1449+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 2,000 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.