2026 Categories
The benchmark for industry excellence. Winning at The Rewards carries weight. This year there is 20 categories to choose from, all designed to reward work that gets it right.
Getting started
Login or register for free to view the category criteria. From there you can enter as many categories you wish and can edit and return to your entries as many times as you like before the final deadline.
Entry deadline
There are no entry fees for submissions made by 15 May. After this, an entry fee of £150 + VAT will be applied until the final deadline of 19 June. Reward 300 members receive 50% off on all nominations.
Need help?
Whether that be support with writing your entries or suggestions on which categories are best fit for you, we’re here to help. Contact our Awards team.
Categories
Best Company to Work For
Who should enter?
Organisations demonstrating exceptional employee engagement, culture, and development.
Best ESG Strategy
Who should enter?
Organisations demonstrating excellence in environmental, social, and governance initiatives through their pay and reward strategies.
Best Reward Strategy
Who should enter?
Organisations delivering innovative, inclusive, and impactful reward programmes.
Excellence in Transformation Award
Who should enter?
Organisations or teams delivering significant change programmes or operational transformation.
Financial Wellbeing Strategy Award
Who should enter?
Open to both in-house teams and service providers who have implemented initiatives to improve employees’ financial wellbeing. This includes programmes such as earned wage access solutions, payroll-linked savings schemes, or other initiatives that support employees in managing their finances, reducing reliance on payday loans, and improving financial resilience.
HR Professional of the Year
Who should enter?
HR professionals who have enhanced employee experience, business performance, or organisational strategy.
Innovation Award
Who should enter?
Organisations or teams introducing creative and impactful projects, solutions, or strategies.
Mentor of the Year
Who should enter?
Individuals providing exceptional mentorship and/ or career development support.
Pay Transparency Award
Who should enter?
Open to organisations that have demonstrated a clear commitment to transparent, fair and equitable pay practices. This award recognises employers who go beyond statutory requirements to help employees understand how pay is set, progressed and reviewed, and who actively work to address pay inequality.
Payroll & HR Technology Provider of the Year
Who should enter?
Providers of payroll, HR, or people management technology solutions.
Payroll Professional of the Year
Who should enter?
Payroll professionals demonstrating leadership, innovation, and impact.
Reward Professional of the Year
Who should enter?
Reward professionals (including those in employee benefits and pensions) driving impactful reward, benefits, or recognition strategies.
Rising Star Award
Who should enter?
Individuals with less than five years’ industry experience making exceptional contributions.
Service Provider Excellence Award – Reward & Benefits
Who should enter?
Providers delivering reward or employee benefits solutions to clients.
Service Provider Excellence Award – Payments
Who should enter?
Providers of payroll or employee payments, including pensions contributions.
Service Provider Excellence Award – Payroll
Who should enter?
Payroll service providers delivering exemplary client outcomes.
Team Excellence Award – Global Payroll
Who should enter?
Teams managing complex, multi-country, or expatriate payroll operations.
Team Excellence Award – In-house
Who should enter?
Open to internal UK-based teams working in payroll, HR, reward, pensions, or employee benefits that have delivered outstanding performance within their organisation. This award focuses on domestic, in-house teams only.
Team Excellence Award – Public Sector
Team Excellence Award – Service Provider
Who should enter?
Bureau, managed service, or outsourced teams delivering pay & reward services.
More information
Confidentiality
All materials will remain confidential to the judges. Winning case studies may be used in post-event materials to promote best practice but permission will be sought from entrants before publishing.
Terms & Conditions
By entering the awards, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy notice.
