Awards categories for the CIPD HR awards in Ireland

The CIPD in Ireland HR Awards categories reflect the core areas of people practice, as well as emerging trends shaping the profession.

The categories are reviewed annually and for 2027 we have 14 categories, with the introduction of one new category to recognise an area of growing importance and impact: Excellence in Collective Bargaining.

Each category descriptor forms part of the published judging criteria. Before entering, review the criteria carefully and choose the category that best aligns with your work and where you can provide the strongest evidence of impact, as entries are assessed against the specific criteria for their chosen category.

Award categories

AI, technology and workforce transformation

This category recognises people-led initiatives that use AI, automation, technology, data or digital transformation to improve organisational performance, workforce effectiveness and employee experience.

It celebrates the role of HR and the people function in ensuring technology is implemented responsibly, adopted successfully and delivers measurable value for the organisation and its people. This could include the introduction of AI tools, HR technology platforms, workforce analytics, automation, digital learning solutions, employee self-service technologies or broader workforce transformation programmes.

This category may be right for you if:

You introduced AI, automation or technology to solve a workforce or business challenge.
You implemented a new HRIS, people analytics platform or digital people solution.
You used workforce data and insight to improve decision-making.
You redesigned work, jobs or workforce processes through technology.
You led an organisation-wide technology adoption or workforce transformation programme.

What judges will be looking for:

A clearly defined business challenge, opportunity or strategic objective.
Alignment with organisational and workforce priorities.
Meaningful involvement of HR and people professionals throughout the initiative.
Effective stakeholder engagement, communication and change management.
Responsible and ethical use of AI, technology and workforce data.
Evidence that employees were supported to adopt new ways of working.
Clear, measurable outcomes for the organisation, workforce and employee experience.

You will need to complete Form A: Organisational initiative entry form for this category.

Consultancy or strategic partnership

This category recognises consultants, suppliers, advisers and strategic partners who have worked collaboratively with a client organisation to solve a significant people or business challenge.

The award celebrates partnerships that move beyond service delivery to create measurable organisational value through people expertise, innovation and collaboration.

This category may be right for you if:

You partnered with a client to deliver a significant HR, L&D, OD, talent, reward, wellbeing or workforce initiative.

The solution was co-designed and implemented collaboratively.

The work addressed a clearly defined business challenge or opportunity.

You can demonstrate measurable outcomes for the client organisation.

What judges will be looking for:

A strong understanding of the client's challenge and business needs.

Genuine collaboration and partnership working.

Clear roles, responsibilities and accountability.

Innovative or evidence-based solutions.

Measurable organisational, workforce or business outcomes.

Sustainable impact beyond the initial engagement.

You will need to complete Form A: Organisational initiative entry form for this category.

Equality, diversity and inclusion initiative

This category recognises initiatives that improve equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging while supporting organisational performance and a sustainable workplace culture.

It celebrates action that goes beyond intent to deliver measurable and lasting change.

This category may be right for you if:

You have improved workforce representation or inclusion.

You have addressed barriers to progression or opportunity.

You have created more equitable policies, practices or workplace experiences.

You can demonstrate measurable progress and sustainable impact.

What judges will be looking for:

A clearly identified inclusion challenge or opportunity.

Leadership commitment and accountability.

Evidence-based decision-making.

Meaningful employee involvement and engagement.

Sustainable behavioural, cultural or structural change.

Measurable outcomes linked to organisational goals.

You will need to complete Form A: Organisational initiative entry form for this category.

Excellence in collective bargaining (New for 2027)

This category recognises organisations, employer representatives and trade union partners who have successfully used collective bargaining to address workplace challenges and achieve positive outcomes.

The focus is on constructive engagement, sustainable agreements and organisational success.

This category may be right for you if:

You negotiated a significant collective agreement.

You resolved a complex workplace issue through collective bargaining.

You strengthened employee relations, partnership working or trust.

You can demonstrate measurable outcomes for employees and the organisation.

What judges will be looking for:

Constructive and good-faith engagement between the parties.

Effective partnership working and relationship building.

A clear workplace challenge or opportunity.

Innovation in collective bargaining approaches where appropriate.

Employee voice, engagement and inclusivity.

Positive outcomes for employees and the organisation.

Sustainable agreements that support long-term organisational success.

You will need to complete Form A: Organisational initiative entry form for this category.

Future workforce strategy

This category recognises workforce strategies that prepare organisations for future challenges and opportunities through workforce planning, capability building, organisational design and skills development.

This category may be right for you if:

You redesigned your workforce strategy.

You addressed critical skills or capability gaps.

You improved workforce planning and organisational agility.

You took action to prepare for future workforce needs.

What judges will be looking for:

Alignment with organisational strategy and future priorities.

Effective use of workforce planning, insight and forecasting.

Actions taken to address future capability or skills requirements.

Collaboration across functions and stakeholders.

Evidence of organisational resilience and future readiness.

Measurable progress against strategic objectives.

You will need to complete Form A: Organisational initiative entry form for this category.

HR excellence in a small business (SME)

This category recognises small and medium-sized organisations that demonstrate outstanding people practice and clear organisational impact.

Eligible organisations must employ fewer than 150 employees.

This category may be right for you if:

You are an SME with a strong people strategy.

You have achieved significant outcomes with limited resources.

HR plays an important role in business success.

You can demonstrate measurable impact.

What judges will be looking for:

Strategic contribution of people practices to business success.

Creativity, agility and innovation.

Effective use of resources.

Strong people practices and leadership.

Measurable organisational and workforce outcomes.

Sustainable impact.

You will need to complete Form A: Organisational initiative entry form for this category.

Learning and development initiative

This category recognises learning and development initiatives that build capability, close skills gaps and support organisational performance.

This category may be right for you if:

You introduced a significant learning initiative or programme.

You addressed critical capability or skills challenges.

You improved organisational performance through learning and development.

You can demonstrate measurable outcomes for learners and the organisation.

What judges will be looking for:

A clearly identified capability, skills or performance need.

Strong alignment between learning activity and organisational priorities.

Evidence-based design and delivery.

Learner engagement, participation and adoption.

Measurable improvements in capability, performance or organisational outcomes.

Evidence that learning has been applied in practice and delivered lasting value.

You will need to complete Form A: Organisational initiative entry form for this category.

Most inspirational and impactful leader

This category recognises an experienced people professional whose leadership has delivered measurable impact and advanced the people profession.

This category may be right for you if:

You are a senior people leader.

You have influenced organisational culture, strategy or performance.

You actively develop and support others.

You have made a contribution to the wider profession.

What judges will be looking for:

Values-led leadership and professionalism.

Strategic influence and organisational impact.

The ability to inspire, develop and empower others.

Evidence of measurable people and business outcomes.

Contribution to the development of the people profession.

Lasting influence on organisational culture, capability or performance.

You will need to complete Form B: Individual nomination entry form for this category.

Organisational change and transformation initiative

This category recognises people-led transformation programmes that have fundamentally improved organisational performance, capability, culture or ways of working.

This category may be right for you if:

You led a major transformation programme.

You redesigned structures, processes or operating models.

You implemented large-scale organisational change.

You can demonstrate measurable and sustainable outcomes.

What judges will be looking for:

A clear rationale and case for change.

Effective planning, governance and delivery.

Strong stakeholder engagement and communication.

Leadership commitment and alignment.

Successful adoption of new ways of working.

Measurable and sustainable organisational impact.

You will need to complete Form A: Organisational initiative entry form for this category.

People and culture initiative

This category recognises initiatives that strengthen organisational culture, employee experience, engagement, wellbeing or Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance while supporting organisational success.

This category may be right for you if:

You improved organisational culture or employee experience.

You increased engagement, wellbeing or belonging.

You strengthened organisational values or behaviours.

You can demonstrate measurable outcomes.

What judges will be looking for:

A clear link between the initiative and organisational priorities.

Meaningful employee and leadership involvement.

Evidence of positive behavioural or cultural change.

Improvements in employee experience, engagement or wellbeing.

Measurable organisational outcomes.

Sustainable impact over time.

You will need to complete Form A: Organisational initiative entry form for this category.

People team of the year

This category recognises an HR, L&D, OD or people team that has delivered exceptional results and created significant value for its organisation.

This category may be right for you if:

Your team has delivered significant organisational impact.

You have led high-profile people initiatives or programmes.

You have strengthened the contribution of the people function.

You can demonstrate collective achievement and results.

What judges will be looking for:

The strategic contribution of the people team.

Effective collaboration within the team and across the organisation.

Innovation and problem-solving.

Delivery against organisational priorities.

Measurable people and business outcomes.

Evidence of sustained performance and organisational value.

You will need to complete Form A: Organisational initiative entry form for this category.

Reward and recognition strategy

This category recognises reward and recognition strategies that drive performance, engagement, retention and fairness.

This category may be right for you if:

You redesigned reward frameworks or recognition programmes.

You improved pay transparency, fairness or employee value propositions.

You introduced innovative approaches to reward and recognition.

You can demonstrate measurable impact.

What judges will be looking for:

Clear alignment between reward strategy and organisational objectives.

Fairness, inclusivity and accessibility.

Evidence-based design and decision-making.

Employee understanding, engagement and uptake.

Measurable improvements in attraction, retention, engagement or performance.

Sustainable organisational impact.

You will need to complete Form A: Organisational initiative entry form for this category.

Rising star of the people profession

This category recognises an outstanding early-career people professional who has already demonstrated significant potential and impact.

Applicants should typically be within their first five years in HR, L&D, recruitment or organisational development.

This category may be right for you if:

You are in the early stages of your people profession career.

You have delivered meaningful outcomes or improvements.

You demonstrate initiative, curiosity and leadership potential.

You have positively influenced people or organisational outcomes.

What judges will be looking for:

Evidence of achievement relative to career stage.

Initiative, innovation and problem-solving.

The ability to build relationships and influence others.

Commitment to learning and professional development.

Measurable contribution to people or organisational outcomes.

Potential to become a future leader of the profession.

You will need to complete Form B: Individual nomination entry form for this category.

Talent management strategy

This category recognises talent strategies that strengthen organisational capability through the effective attraction, development, engagement and retention of talent.

This category may be right for you if:

You redesigned talent management practices.

You improved succession planning, development or retention.

You addressed critical talent challenges.

You can demonstrate measurable workforce outcomes.

What judges will be looking for:

A clearly identified talent or capability challenge.

Strong alignment with organisational strategy and workforce needs.

Effective approaches to attraction, development, progression or retention.

Inclusive and accessible talent practices.

Measurable improvements in capability, retention or organisational performance.

Long-term value for the organisation and its workforce.

You will need to complete Form A: Organisational initiative entry form for this category.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I choose the right category?

Can I enter multiple categories?

What if my work could fit more than one category?

What are judges looking for?

Each category’s criteria outlines what the judges will be looking for specific to that category. In addition, judges look for clear evidence of the challenge or opportunity addressed, the approach taken and the impact achieved.

Strong entries demonstrate measurable outcomes, a clear narrative and sustainable value for the organisation and its people. Please see the entry pack for more information and guidance.