This week I had the pleasure of judging the Employee Benefits Awards 2025. Chairing our wonderful panel of judges is one of my favourite parts of my role, not least because I find it inherently fascinating to hear their views on the benefits strategies and initiatives employers have implemented for their employees. I always come away feeling that I have learned something new.
At a time when many employers are being tasked to do more with less, one thing that really stood out to me – and indeed was commented upon by some of our judges – was the passion that exists within the industry. This was evident within many of the entries and was also present in abundance among our judging panel as they debated who should be this year’s worthy winners.
This passion is undoubtedly one of the driving forces behind the evolution of many organisations’ benefits strategies. Despite many facing budgetary pressures, it is clear many employers are thinking creatively about how they can continue to support their workforces’ needs both in and out of the workplace. It is fascinating to see how employers are achieving this aim, as well as continuing to build their employer brand and organisational culture.
There is so much more I would like to say about my takeaways from our judging day, but to do so could risk inadvertently giving away clues about our winners.
On that note, we will be announcing the shortlist for the Employee Benefits Awards next week, before unveiling the winners on 27 June at the HAC, London. Make sure you don’t miss out on discovering who is in the running and find out more about the day.
Debbie Lovewell-Tuck
Editor
@DebbieLovewell
