This category recognises organisations that have demonstrated exceptional capability in driving cultural transformation and managing change effectively. Entries should highlight how the organisation successfully planned, executed, and sustained cultural change initiatives that fostered innovation, adaptability, and employee engagement, which delivered measurable and positive outcomes for both employees and the business.

This category honours organisations that have taken meaningful and proactive steps to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. Entries should demonstrate how the organisation has embedded inclusive practices across the employee life cycle, including recruitment, development, and advancement while celebrating all forms of diversity such as race, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, culture, and physical ability. Judges will look for clear policies, impact-driven initiatives, and measurable progress in creating an inclusive culture.

As environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations become central to business sustainability, this category recognises organisations that have embedded ESG principles into their HR and people strategies. Entries should showcase how the ESG framework was integrated into the workplace culture, talent practices, and employee engagement, and how it has contributed to a sense of purpose, organisational pride, and employee loyalty.

This category celebrates organisations that have excelled in nurturing fresh talent through structured graduate programmes. Judges will assess how the organisation supported recent graduates or early-career professionals (0-2 years of experience) in developing future-ready skills and leadership qualities. Winning entries should demonstrate a purposeful learning journey that included formal training, mentoring, real-world business exposure, and career development opportunities.

*Renamed from Most Innovative Leadership Development Programme

This category recognises impactful and results-oriented programmes designed to develop current and future leaders. Entries should describe the programme’s structure, learning methodologies, participant engagement, and measurable outcomes. Judges will look for a clear link between the programme and improved leadership capabilities, team performance, and business results.

This category recognises organisations that have implemented a comprehensive, forward-looking leadership strategy aligned with long-term business goals. Judges will evaluate how the strategy encompassed succession planning, high-potential identification, diversity in leadership pipelines, and the integration of leadership development into the broader talent ecosystem. The winning entry should clearly demonstrate how this strategy built a strong bench of ready-now leaders and contributed to sustained organisational growth and resilience.

This category celebrates organisations with well-rounded management training programmes that supported leadership development across all levels – from early-career managers to senior leaders. Entries should highlight how the training equipped managers with the skills to execute business strategies effectively. Judges will assess the programme’s structure, depth, and how it contributed to long-term organisational success.

In recent years, we have seen some of the most challenging socio-economic times which have brought with them a real test of leadership. This category provides a unique opportunity to recognise an individual who has exemplified outstanding leadership, especially during challenging times. Open to leaders at any level – from the front lines to the C-suite – this award honours someone who has inspired their teams, instilled confidence, and driven high performances through vision, empathy, and perseverance. Judges will look for compelling stories of leadership impact, team motivation, and personal resilience.

*Prerequisite: To be eligible for this award, the company the respective candidate is representing must have entered at least two other categories at the Employee Experience Awards 2026. This is to support their claims to the judges with examples of work the candidate has been involved in leading or overseeing.

This category recognises organisations that have implemented strategic and impactful programmes to build critical skills and capabilities across the workforce. Judges will look for initiatives that went beyond traditional training, and which fostered continuous learning, strengthened organisational agility, and directly supported business goals. Winning entries should clearly demonstrate how the capability development led to measurable outcomes such as improved performance, increased innovation, and a robust talent pipeline prepared for future challenges.

This category honours organisations that have provided structured, meaningful career development opportunities across all levels. Entries should showcase initiatives such as coaching, mentoring, upskilling, lateral moves, reverse mentoring, and more. Judges will seek evidence of strong business alignment, a commitment to employees’ long-term growth, and strategic planning for future skill requirements. The winning entry should demonstrate how the programme empowered individuals and supported organisational success.

This category celebrates organisations that have successfully embedded a culture of continuous learning and growth. Entries should highlight initiatives that promoted a growth mindset, encouraged knowledge sharing, recognised learning achievements, and integrated learning into daily work. Judges will look for evidence of how these cultural shifts have inspired employees to take ownership of their development and contributed to long-term organisational success.

Learning and development (L&D) is a cornerstone of future-ready organisations. This category recognises comprehensive L&D initiatives that have driven individual growth and business performance. Judges will look for blended learning approaches that incorporated digital tools, innovative methodologies, and a clear connection between learning outcomes and business impact. Winning entries should demonstrate how L&D enhanced employee capabilities and contributed to increased engagement and productivity.

* Rename from Best Use of Technology in Learning

This category recognises organisations that have effectively leveraged technology and data to enhance learning outcomes which have delivered measurable business impact. Judges will assess the rationale behind the technology selection, stakeholder engagement, implementation process, and how the solution was customised and scaled to meet organisational needs.

Winners should demonstrate the successful use of tools such as learning management systems, learning experience platforms, AI-powered analytics or virtual reality training to personalise learning, identify skill gaps, and improve learner engagement, accessibility, and performance.

*Rename from Best Organisational Upskilling and Reskilling Strategy

This category recognises organisations with a forward-thinking, enterprise-wide approach, to building a future-ready workforce. Judges will look for strategies that addressed current skill gaps while proactively preparing employees for emerging roles and evolving business demands. Winning entries should demonstrate how the upskilling and reskilling strategy enhanced organisational agility, empowered
employees with career mobility, and delivered clear business outcomes through the development of critical capabilities.

In the face of rapid technological advancements and shifting workforce demographics, HR must evolve beyond legacy systems to meet modern expectations. This category recognises organisations that have successfully transformed their HR functions through digital innovation. Entries should demonstrate how digital tools such as automation, AI, and data analytics were implemented to streamline processes, elevate the employee experience, enable better decision-making, and support business goals, all while maintaining fairness, privacy, and human oversight.

Effective communication is the cornerstone of a strong employee experience. This category celebrates organisations that have developed and executed impactful communication strategies – leveraging internal and external channels such as social media, digital platforms, and innovative tools to ensure transparency, alignment, and engagement across the workforce. Judges will look for clarity, creativity, and consistency in messaging that fostered trust and connection.

This category recognises organisations that have adopted a holistic, proactive, and strategic approach to employee wellbeing – viewing health not just as a benefit, but as a core component of workforce engagement and risk management. Winners should highlight the integrated wellness initiatives that addressed mental, emotional, physical, and financial wellbeing. Judges will look for programmes that were embedded into the organisation’s culture, aligned with business objectives, and designed to create lasting impact on employee satisfaction, organisational resilience, and overall performance.

This category celebrates organisations that have created a supportive, inclusive, and comfortable work environment designed around the needs of their people. Judges will assess how the physical space, workplace policies, and cultural elements came together to boost morale, drive satisfaction, and foster a positive employee experience. Winning entries should demonstrate the high level of care, flexibility, and innovation in crafting a workplace that attracts and retains top talent.

This category recognises organisations that have successfully articulated their employee value proposition and built a compelling employer brand. Entries should showcase how storytelling, internal brand champions, and strategic partnerships were used to attract top talent, engage current employees, and position the organisation as an employer of choice. Judges will look for creativity, consistency, and measurable impact on talent attraction and retention.

Employee engagement is key to building cohesive teams and driving business performance. This category honours organisations that have designed and executed impactful engagement programmes that have created a lasting sense of belonging, motivation, and collaboration. Judges will look for initiatives that touched all employee segments – from new hires to seasoned staff – which have led to improved internal communication, team bonding, and an overall positive workplace culture.

This category recognises organisations that have gone above and beyond to support employees in balancing work and family responsibilities. Entries should highlight initiatives such as parental leave policies, flexible work arrangements, childcare support, and other family-inclusive benefits. Winning organisations should demonstrate how these efforts have created a pro-family culture, contributed to employee wellbeing, and positively influenced retention and productivity.

Recognition is a powerful driver of motivation and loyalty. This category honours organisations that have implemented dynamic and effective rewards programmes tailored to recognise contributions, celebrate milestones, and reinforce desired behaviours. Judges will assess the creativity, relevance, and impact of these programmes in shaping a culture of appreciation and driving performance.

This category recognises organisations that have implemented robust, future-focused strategies, to develop internal talent through upskilling, reskilling, and structured learning pathways. Entries should demonstrate how the strategies supported both individual career progression and the organisation’s long-term business needs. Judges will look for outcomes such as improved performance, talent retention, morale, and future-readiness.

This category celebrates organisations that have pioneered bold and forward-thinking approaches to workforce management. Entries should highlight innovative practices that have challenged traditional norms such as AI-powered recruitment, cutting-edge retention strategies, flexible work models or novel upskilling and reskilling initiatives. Judges will be looking for solutions that delivered measurable impact on employee engagement, workforce adaptability, and overall business performance. Winning entries will position the organisation as a true trailblazer in shaping the future of work.

*Renamed from Best Recruitment Experience Strategy

This category recognises organisations that have consistently delivered a positive, respectful, and professional experience at every stage of the candidate journey – from application through to interviews, hiring, and onboarding. Judges will look for thoughtful, human-centred processes that reflect the organisation’s values and employer brand, while creating a memorable and engaging experience for all candidates.

This category recognises organisations that have successfully integrated talent mobility, both domestic and international, into their overall talent strategy. Entries should demonstrate how the mobility opportunities supported employee development, business continuity, and global workforce planning. Judges will look for creative mobility frameworks that overcame modern challenges while strengthening leadership pipelines and contributing to organisational agility.

This category celebrates organisations that have developed innovative and effective strategies to identify, attract, and engage top-tier talent in a competitive and evolving landscape. Entries may highlight the use of social media, employee referrals, talent communities, and targeted outreach, etc, to attract talent, including Gen Z, cross-border talent from the Greater Bay Area, and through schemes such as TTPS and ASMTP.

Judges will look for strategies that were inclusive, forward-thinking, and data-informed, with demonstrated impact on talent pipeline strength, hiring outcomes, employer brand visibility, and workforce diversity.

The most coveted of all achievements at the Employee Experience Awards, this prestigious title goes to the best performing entrant across all four pillars: Leadership, Learning, Engagement, and Talent Acquisition

Points system:

Gold: 4 points

Silver: 2 points

Bronze: 1 point

Tie-breakers:

Most gold: If total points are tied, the company with the highest number of gold awards wins.

Most silver: If the gold awards are also tied, the company with the highest number of silver awards wins.

Highest average score: If a tie still persists, the company with the highest average score percentage (as assigned by the judges across all their winning entries) will win.