Employer Brand Management Awards 2026 shortlist revealed
2 min
In an increasingly competitive labour market, the Employer Brand Management Awards 2026 shortlist recognises the organisations redefining how companies attract and retain talent.
- Updates
As organisations continue to compete for talent, employer branding has become a defining measure of culture and reputation. The Employer Brand Management Awards 2026 shortlist recognises the campaigns and strategies that have set the standard across the discipline over the past 18 months.
Selected by an independent panel of judges, the shortlist spans more than 20 categories, celebrating excellence in employee engagement, employer value propositions, internal communications, diversity initiatives and brand strategy.
“Our judges were truly impressed by this year’s entries,” says Andrew Thomas, publisher of Communicate magazine and founder of the awards. “The quality of submissions made for an exceptionally competitive judging process, making this year’s shortlist a significant achievement.”
Last year’s Grand Prix was awarded to Gaucho and WeLove9am, with winners also recognised across sectors including retail, financial services, technology and healthcare.
The winners of the Employer Brand Management Awards 2026 will be announced on 23 September at the The Underglobe in London. To reserve a place or enquire further, please contact George Ramsay at [email protected] or telephone +44 (0)20 3950 5356.
This year’s Employer Brand Management Awards shortlist is as follows:
COMMUNICATION
Best Alignment of the Employer Value Proposition with Corporate Brand Values
Allegro and Be About Hybrid Agency
IQM Quantum Computers and Finders Seekers
London Gatwick and MGA
Parkdean Resorts
SPD Technology
T-Mobile Polska
Best Communication of the Employer Brand to the External Audience
IHG and Tonic
IQM Quantum Computers and Finders Seekers
Medik8 and Chatter Communications
Netflix and The Studio at Symphony Talent
Royal London and Chatter Communications
Sony Music and LEAP Create
Best Communication of the Employer Brand to the Internal Audience
dsm-firmenich and Symphony Talent
HCA Healthcare UK
Manchester Metropolitan University and SMRS
Marston Holdings and WPA Pinfold
NSG and Creed Communications
Rhenus Group HR Services GmbH
Best Communication of the Employer Brand to a Gen Z Audience
Asahi UK and The Studio at Symphony Talent
BAT and Tonic
BDO and Pink Squid
Mars and ILoveMyJob
Rolls-Royce and Cielo
Best Communication of the Employer Brand to a Gen Alpha Audience
SCS JV and WeLove9am
Best Short-Term or One-Off Employer Brand Campaign
AXA XL
Comcast and Wiser
GKN Aerospace and Dawson Walker
Iceland and Creed Communications
Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS) and Tonic
Ocado Logistics and Caraffi
Rolls-Royce and Cielo
Best Use of Digital
IHG and 33Seconds
KFC UK&I and Chatter Communications
Mitchells & Butlers
Next and Wiser
Orange Polska
Rolls-Royce and Cielo
Best Social Media Strategy
Comcast and Wiser
Mitchells & Butlers and Cogent
Rolls-Royce and Cielo
The Army UOTC and Tonic
The UK’s Intelligence Services and Penna
Best Integration of the Employer Brand in Communication Strategy
Allegro and Be About Hybrid Agency
CD PROJEKT RED
DLA Piper LLP
KUKA Hungary and Brandfizz Employer Branding
Best Employer Brand Innovation
Aegon and TMP Worldwide
Boston Consulting Group
IHG and 33Seconds
Kaufland Romania
SCS JV and WeLove9am
West Midlands Police and Caraffi
Best Use of Data
Elsevier
Mitchells & Butlers
Siemens and Wisdom
EMPLOYER BRAND POSITIONING
Best Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
Aegon and TMP Worldwide
BT
CGI and LEAP Create
Northern and Creed Communications
Yorkshire Building Society and Chatter Communications
Best Management of the Employer Brand Following a Change of Mission, Positioning, or Management
Allegro and Be About Hybrid Agency
Brambles, CHEP and Brunswick Group
Cloudera
Elsevier
Evoke and Chatter Communications
Siemens
Best Management of the Employer Brand Following a Merger or Acquisition
2Connect Hungary and Brandfizz Employer Branding
AZ Oostende and d-artagnan
dsm-firmenich and The Studio at Symphony Talent
Global Payments and Wiser
Best Localisation Programme
ABB
GE Aerospace Hungary and Brandfizz Employer Branding
IHG and Tonic
Netflix and The Studio at Symphony Talent
Ocado Logistics and Caraffi
EMPLOYEE JOURNEY
Best Employee Experience
Grupa Maspex and Grow Agency
MAIRE and WIZARD MEDIA
Siemens
Virgin Media O2 and Chatter Communications
Best Employer Brand Management Event
BDO and Pink Squid
Kaufland Romania
MAIRE and WIZARD MEDIA
Best Brand Ambassador Programme
ABB Poland
Allegro and Sharebee
Cloudera
IHG and Tonic
KFC UK&I and Chatter Communications
SPD Technology
Best Alumni Programme
Cloudera
Best Onboarding or Reboarding Programme
BDO
Global NGO and Tonic
Best Employee Wellbeing Initiative
Grapefruit
UPSTARS
Best Ongoing Commitment to Employer Brand Management
Barnsley Premier Leisure (BPL)
Cloudera
Currys and Tonic
Elsevier
Mondelēz International
BEST EMPLOYER BRAND BY SECTOR
Best Employer Brand Management from the Engineering and Manufacturing Sector
ASELSAN
IQM Quantum Computers and Finders Seekers
KUKA Hungary and Brandfizz Employer Branding
NSG and Creed Communications
SCS JV and WeLove9am
Best Employer Brand Management from the FMCG Sector
Brown-Forman and Tonic
Best Employer Brand Management from the Food and Beverage Sector
Bonafarm Group and Brandfizz Employer Branding
Mitchells & Butlers
Best Employer Brand Management from the Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Sector
AZ Oostende and d-artagnan
CVS Veterinary Group and Creed Communications
dsm-firmenich and Symphony Talent
Best Employer Brand Management from the Professional and Financial Services Sector
Aegon
Pluxee and Visual Assets
Best Employer Brand Management from the Retail Sector
Currys and Tonic
Kaufland Romania
Best Employer Brand Management from the Sports, Travel, Leisure and Tourism Sector
Barnsley Premier Leisure (BPL)
IHG and Tonic
London Gatwick and MGA
Parkdean Resorts
Best Employer Brand Management from the Technology, Media and Telecommunications Sector
Allegro and Be About Hybrid Agency
CGI and LEAP Create
Cloudera
Elsevier
Netflix and The Studio at Symphony Talent
Best Employer Brand Management from the Transport and Logistics Sector
MAG and Wiser
Ocado Logistics and Caraffi
SCS JV and WeLove9am