HR Magazine - HR Excellence Awards 2023: the full list of winners

The 2023 HR Excellence Awards held yesterday (5 December) brought together industry leaders from the people profession to celebrate top achievements this year.

A glamorous guestlist gathered at The Brewery in London for the awards ceremony, a delicious meal and a lively afterparty.

Entries from across the public and private sector were judged in 20 categories by our esteemed panel.

Entries were graded in secret and assessed by an aggregate score.

A selection of entries were also celebrated as highly commended to acknowledge exceptional efforts and the difficulty of choosing just one winner.

Kate Clay from eStar Truck and Van, who won HR Director of the Year, told HR magazine the award marks a career milestone.

She said: “I am absolutely over the moon, this award is almost like the pinnacle of my career.

“I started HR when I was 17 and I’ve been reading the magazine since I was 20 so to get to a position as a HR director where you can actually make a difference and be recognised for your hard work is honestly quite emotional.”

Charlotte Wakeham from Royal Mail, who won HR Future Leader of the Year, told HR magazine: “I feel surprised but really delighted. It’s been great to hear the achievement of everyone else, across so many sectors and business sizes. To be on the same list is an absolute honour.”

The HR magazine team would like to thank this year's judges, HR Excellence Awards sponsors Sage, Safecall, Investors in People and Health and Wellbeing at Work and all those who attended the event for making it a night to remember.

Here are the winners in full:

Best Diversity and Inclusion Strategy

Wincanton

Best Early Careers Strategy

Mitie Group

Best Employee Engagement Strategy

Equiniti

Best ESG Strategy

Tridios Bank UK

Highly commended: First Bus UK

Best Flexible Working Strategy

British Transport Police