Communicate magazine has announced it is now open for entries for the Employer Brand Management Awards 2022. The awards programme, now its seventh year, is the only awards programme to exclusively focus on benchmarking the best in the efforts of organisations on their employer brand.

The opening for entries comes at a prescient time. This week has also seen the publication of two major surveys highlighting the importance of good employer brand management.

The first, a survey of 6000 people conducted by employment consultancy firm Randstad, has shown that the number of employees who expect to quit their jobs in the next three to six months has more than doubled over the past year. The ‘Great Resignation’ had been forecast in the US earlier this year by Anthony Klotz from Texas University’s Mays Business School, but Randstad’s research indicates the problem could well be a global one.

Global advisory firm, Willis Watson Towers, separately released research showing that, compared with last year, three times more organisations are having difficulties attracting employees. Confirming the findings of the Randstad survey, the Willis Watson Towers research indicates the challenge for retention is even greater, with four times the number of employers stating a greater challenge in keeping staff compared with last year.

Andrew Thomas, publisher of Communicate magazine and the founder of the Employer Brand Management Awards said “There has never been a harder time for the employer brand professional. These two pieces of research really do show that a confluence of Brexit, post-COVID impact on supply and demand and global changing demographics have all aligned to create a perfect storm. The next year will provide plenty of challenges for employer branding - all the more important to celebrate excellence in this space. I’m delighted that the Employer Brand Management Awards continues to highlight what good looks like for firms keen to position their organisations as employer of choice.”

The Employer Brand Management Awards programme accepts entries from any private sector company, public sector organisation, creative agency or individual who has helped develop or apply a successful employer brand. Last year, winners came from practically every sector, with gold trophies awarded to GSK, ITV, Aviva and the Metropolitan Police. The more than 20 categories include ‘Best alignment of the employer value proposition with corporate brand values,’ ‘Best integration of the employer brand in communications strategy’, 'Best onboarding and/or reboarding programme' and 'Best employee wellbeing initiative.’

Each project will be reviewed by a panel of expert judges, from a range of different backgrounds, including those from employer brand and talent attraction, but also extending out those from HR, internal and corporate communications backgrounds. 

Enter by 25 February to save £100 on your total entry cost. Entries are accepted until 22 April, with entries submitted after this being subjected to a late entry fee. For more information, contact Robert Mitchell, robert.mitchell@communicatemagazine.co.uk or call +44 (0)20 3950 5356.