Employer brand is at the heart of every organisation, as the key to attracting, engaging and retaining talent. The past year has truly shown the power of strong employer brand in supporting individuals and teams through the challenges of the pandemic.

Andrew Thomas, publisher of communicate magazine and founder of the awards, says, “This year’s Employer Brand Management Awards has set a new high. It's been a record year for entries, but what impressed the judges so much was the calibre of entries. The competition has been fierce. I know those companies shortlisted are set for a fabulous celebration of employer brand management on September 15.”

With over 20 categories, the shortlist celebrates excellence across a range of sectors, channels and strategies. Among last year’s winners were the Metropolitan Police and Tonic Agency who secured the prestigious Grand Prix award. The winners of the 2021 ‘Grand Prix’ and ‘Best creative execution of the employer brand,’ will be announced at the official awards ceremony.

The Employer Brand Management Awards 2021 will be held on 15 September 2021 in Central London. Reserve your table at the celebration here.

 

The full shortlist is as follows:

Communication

Best alignment of the employer value proposition with corporate brand values

GSK and Tonic Agency

Guidewire and Ph.Creative

Petrol Ofisi and Talent Brand Company

SAP

Univé and PROOF

 

Best communication of the employer brand to the external audience

B&Q and ThirtyThree

Mars and Symphony Talent

Metropolitan Police Service and Tonic Agency

NatWest Group and Ph.Creative

Signature Senior Lifestyle and WeLove9am

 

Best communication of the employer brand to the internal audience

BT and Ph.Creative

Mars and Symphony Talent

Orkla and Symphony Talent

Sage and Universum

The Good Care Group and Creed Comms

 

Best short-term or one-off employer brand campaign

Barclays and Tonic Agency

CMS and Blackbridge Communications

EE and ThirtyThree

EY

Southern Co-op and WeLove9am

 

Best use of digital

Accenture and ThirtyThree

BT and Ph.Creative

Mars and Symphony Talent

Nexans and Symphony Talent

PwC Poland

 

Best social media strategy

Agilent and Cielo Talent

Barclays and Tonic Agency

BT and Ph.Creative

Dixons Carphone and Tonic Agency

Natwest Group and Ph.Creative

 

Best integration of the employer brand in communication strategy

Adidas and Cloud Factory

DRPG

 

Best employer brand innovation

BT and Ph.Creative

EY

Mars and Symphony Talent

Nexans and Symphony Talent

PwC Poland

 

Employer Brand Positioning

Best diversity and inclusion strategy

AXA UK and ThirtyThree

ITV and Chatter Communications

SAP

 

Best management of the employer brand following a change of mission, positioning, or management

Capita and ThirtyThree

George at Asda and Chatter Communications

Natwest Group and Ph.Creative

Open GI and DRPG

Philip Morris International and Dawson Walker Communications

 

Best management of the employer brand following a merger or acquisition

London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) and Bladonmore

Best localisation programme

Becton Dickinson and Cielo Talent

Hyundai Motor Europe and BrandPointZero

Mars and Symphony Talent

 

Employee Journey

Best employee experience

Applus

PwC Poland

William Hill and WPA Pinfold

 

Best employer brand management event

Accenture and ThirtyThree

BT Consumer and DRPG

EY

SAP

 

Best brand ambassador programme

Booking.com and Cloud Factory

Mars and Symphony Talent

Wiser

 

Best onboarding and/or reboarding programme

BT and Ph.Creative

Sibur and makelove agency

The Good Care Group and Creed Comms

 

Best employee wellbeing initiative

Arriva and WPA Pinfold

Axiad

Places for People

Publicis Sapient

 

Sector

Best employer brand management from the engineering and manufacturing sector

Hyundai Motor Europe and BrandPointZero

Nexans and Symphony Talent

Turkish Aerospace and Manastır

 

Best employer brand management from the financial services sector

Aviva and Blackbridge Communications

MyCSP on behalf of Civil Service Pensions and Chilli Communication

Royal London and Alexander Mann Solutions

 

Best employer brand management from the FMCG sector

Heineken and Cloud Factory

Philip Morris International and Dawson Walker Communications

 

Best employer brand management from the healthcare and pharmaceuticals sector

GSK and Tonic Agency

Signature Senior Lifestyle and WeLove9am

The Good Care Group and Creed Comms

 

Best employer brand management from the professional services sector

CMS and Blackbridge Communications

Best employer brand management from the public sector

DWP Digital and SMRS

 

Best employer brand management from the retail sector

Asda and Chatter Communications

Leroy Merlin and makelove agency

 

Best employer brand management from the technology, media and telecommunications sector

ASM and Cielo Talent

Fujitsu and Creed Comms

SAP

Telegraph Media Group and That Little Agency

 

Best employer brand management from the travel, leisure and tourism sector

Booking.com and Cloud Factory

easyJet

 

Special Recognition

Best employer brand strategy during Covid-19

AXA UK and ThirtyThree

MyCSP and Chilli Communication

Orkla and Symphony Talent

PwC Poland

SAP

 

Best ongoing commitment to employer brand management

SAP