Meet the Winners

On Tuesday 11th November, we held our annual Engage Awards ceremony, celebrating engagement across customer, employee, sales, and marketing. Together, these engagement efforts contribute to organisational success and sustained growth.

Our glittering Awards Ceremony took place at the iconic Old Billingsgate in London, where over 700 guests joined us. British comedian, writer, actor, performer and presenter Marcus Brigstocke delighted the audience and announced the 2025 winners.

LEAD GENERATION:
Winner: Sopro

The judges were impressed by the clear description of the challenges faced, the innovative programme implemented, and the tangible impact on the business. They praised the use of insights and metrics to demonstrate growth, and highlighted how technology—especially AI—was used to improve the quality of outreach, not just the quantity. The compelling storytelling and real testimonials really brought the entry to life.

BEST USE OF ACCOUNT-BASED MARKETING (ABM):
Winner: Modern X Cloudpay 

The judges were impressed by how this ABM campaign brought Sales and Marketing together using actionable insights. By turning thousands of engagement signals into clear strategic actions, it shifted focus from low-quality leads to a targeted, always-on account strategy. The campaign not only aligned media spend and sales outreach but is now a core part of CloudPay’s growth—truly a standout submission.

BEST CROSS-FUNCTIONAL COLLABORATION STRATEGY :
Winner: H&M

The judges loved seeing engagement treated as a shared responsibility. They praised the clear objectives, strong alignment to organisational goals, and creative approach. With measurable outcomes, compelling testimonials, and a broad, innovative strategy using networks and storytelling, this submission has truly increased ownership and impact across the business.

BEST USE OF PERSONALISATION:
Winner: KPMG & We Are Tilt

The judges were impressed by the innovative use of AI, balanced with personalisation that made every interaction feel authentic and relevant. With outstanding coverage and ROI, and 23 out of 32 prospects converted to meetings, this entry shows how thoughtful, personalised engagement can directly drive interactions, contracts, and revenue—a truly excellent programme in every aspect.

BEST TALENT & RECRUITMENT STRATEGY:
Winner: The Hill Group

The judges were deeply impressed by this submission, which has impact across people, society, and business. With a clear strategy and values embedded throughout, The Hill Group have set a new standard in talent and recruitment—particularly in an industry facing skills shortages. They stood out for their long-term approach to development, combining excellent training, retention, and tangible results. Truly inspiring and pace-setting.

MARKETING CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR:
Winner: SD Worx UK & Good Good Double Good 

The judges were impressed by the bold and creative 'We Love Boring' campaign, which turned the ordinary into a badge of quality. Using real staff for authenticity and delivering strong results—including impressive pipeline and ROI—this campaign cut through in a crowded space. With solid testimonials, clever strategy, and standout creativity, it’s a truly disruptive yet sensible approach that created a real competitive advantage.

BEST USE OF LIVE, DIGITAL AND/OR HYBRID EVENTS MARKETING:
Winner: Bupa UK Insurance

The judges praised this Health campaign for its clear strategy, strong objectives, and measurable engagement impact. By turning complex health topics into engaging, accessible contentthrough multimedia storytelling, interactive events, and influencer partnerships, it held audiences’ attention in a crowded digital space. While innovation was incremental, the campaign demonstrated credibility and strong overall execution.

BEST EXAMPLE OF MARKETING ENGAGEMENT:
Winner: Modern X Cloudpay 

The judges were impressed by this project for tackling the real challenge of data chaos and sales-marketing misalignment. By creating a unified framework, the team turned disconnected signals into actionable insights, guiding accounts from awareness to interest. With clear impact on pipeline, revenue, and big deal wins, this is a smart, practical, and high-impact example of aligning sales and marketing to drive results.

BEST IMPLEMENTATION OF AI IN EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT:
Winner: Thomas 

The judges were impressed by this exciting innovation, particularly how it puts tools, insights, and conversations directly in leaders’ hands. Using a variety of approaches to tackle the challenges of building a positive culture in today’s changing workplace, the AI Coach Thom stood out as a brilliant way to help leaders digest information and take tangible action. A smart, evidence-based application of AI in the workplace.

BEST IMPLEMENTATION OF AI IN CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT:
Winner: KPMG & We Are Tilt

The judges were impressed by the bold and brave decisions behind this entry, which resulted in highly impactful prospecting and tangible business outcomes. It’s a great example of taking calculated risks to drive real results.

Highly Commended: Capita & Southern Water 

BEST INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY:
Winner: Nuffield Health

The judges praised this as a really lovely example of increasing participation among hard-to-reach employees through practical, results-focused interventions—delivered on a remarkably low budget. With clear metrics of success, genuine impact, and great collaboration between HR and Internal Comms, this entry stood out for all the right reasons.

Highly Commended:  The Financial Times

BEST USE OF VOICE OF THE EMPLOYEE:
Winner: Qatar Airways 

The judges were impressed by ‘Our Voice’—a thoughtful and forward-thinking employee voice programme built as an ongoing ecosystem rather than a one-off survey. With action at its core and a wide range of engagement methods, it’s a fantastic initiative that shows real commitment to listening, responding, and driving continuous improvement across the organisation.

Highly Commended: Grupo Salinas

BEST EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT TEAM :
Winner: Cuckoo

The judges loved the video from Cuckoo’s People Team, which perfectly captured the warmth, humour, and authenticity of the organisation. They were impressed by how the team recognises that highly engaged people aren’t a luxury but the foundation of success—crafting exceptional experiences for everyone, from new starters to long-serving colleagues. A united, passionate team driving meaningful engagement across the business.

Highly Commended: Sanofi

BEST USE OF INNOVATION IN CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT:
Winner: Hackney Markets

The judges praised this as a powerful example of how technology can be used to drive economic inclusion and serve the common good—showing the real impact innovation can have beyond business results.

Highly Commended: Northern Gas Networks

Highly Commended:  Grypp and Concentrix

BEST USE OF INNOVATION IN EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT:
Winner: Sanofi

The judges loved the focus on employee voice and involvement as a cornerstone of managing change. This entry stood out as a brilliant example of building real change capability across the workforce—achieving maximum results with minimal resources during a major transformation.

Highly Commended: TXP (Technology x People)

Highly Commended: Boehringer Ingelheim (with the support of Gate One)

BEST VULNERABLE CUSTOMER STRATEGY:
Winner: E.ON NEXT

The judges were deeply impressed by how E.ON Next has placed vulnerability at the very heart of its operations—not as a compliance exercise, but as a true cultural and strategic priority. With initiatives spanning specialist support, accessible digital tools, colleague wellbeing, and financial relief for customers, the results speak for themselves. Combining hard data with genuine humanity, this entry sets a new benchmark for balancing commercial responsibility with empathy.

Highly Commended: Octopus Energy

Highly Commended: Hackney Markets

BEST USE OF CUSTOMER INSIGHT:
Winner: Clarity Environmental 

The judges described this as an outstanding example of what it truly means to be customer-led. Clarity took an honest look at customer pain points and transformed a complex compliance process into a seamless experience—combining AI with the human touch to deliver remarkable results. With clear metrics, sound strategy, and exceptional execution, this entry stood out as a one-of-a-kind success story that earned a near-perfect score.

Highly Commended: Knight Frank

Highly Commended: Sky 

BEST EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY:
Winner: Virgin Management  

The judges praised this strategy for perfectly capturing the spirit of the Virgin Group—full of fun, energy, and personality. They loved the enthusiasm and creativity running through every element, describing it as an excellent example of best practice brought to life with real passion and authenticity.

Highly Commended: SAP UKI

Highly Commended: Ampa Group

BEST DIVERSITY & INCLUSION STRATEGY:
Winner: Smart DCC 

The judges praised this strong and inspiring entry from DCC, highlighting its commitment to building an inclusive environment where everyone can bring their whole selves to work. At a time of intense external scrutiny on ED&I, DCC is forging ahead with a comprehensive strategy, clear measures, and real momentum—showcasing meaningful progress and genuine intent.

Highly Commended: Welcome Break

Highly Commended: The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants

SALES TRANSFORMATION :
Winner: Hackney Markets

The judges were blown away by this innovative and creative approach to rebuilding community trading—one of the most commercially successful public service transformations in the UK. With strong metrics, clear ROI, and an impressive balance of financial and human impact, this is a compelling and well-executed programme that’s made a genuine difference. A remarkable achievement the whole team should be proud of.

Highly Commended: Clarity Environmental 

Highly Commended: Landmark Information Group 

BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM:
Winner: Mettle by NatWest 

The judges praised this entry for its outstanding customer service across every channel, backed by impressive CSAT scores and independent recognition from the Finder and British Bank Awards. They highlighted the smart balance between automation and empathetic human support, with strong metrics and a clear customer-first strategy. Combining credibility, innovation, and real impact, this is a truly impressive and well-deserving winner.

Highly Commended: Landmark Information Group 

Highly Commended: E.ON Next 

BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT:
Winner: Three UK

The judges were impressed by this outstanding use of technology to tackle challenges affecting both customers and colleagues, while fully meeting FCA requirements. Transforming regulatory compliance from a friction point into a seamless experience, this entry achieved 100% compliance, cut handling time by 400 seconds, and boosted NPS by 10 points—proving that regulation and customer experience can go hand in hand.

Highly Commended: Kiva

Highly Commended: Grypp and Concentrix

BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT:
Winner: The Summer Berry Company

The judges loved this entry for proving that award-winning impact doesn’t require big budgets—just genuine investment in people. It’s a wonderful example of an employee-led, values-driven initiative that delivers clear ROI, meets business needs, and removes friction through pragmatic, collaborative, and impactful action.

Highly Commended: The Marketing Pod and npower Business Solutions 

Highly Commended: WorkFlex

BEST EMPLOYEE WELLBEING STRATEGY:
Winner: Clarity Environmental 

The judges were impressed by the commitment to making coaching opportunities available to the entire workforce. With a wide range of supportive, emotional, practical, and social initiatives—including volunteering days—the strategy demonstrates real care and measurable impact. A clear business case and strong ROI make this a standout example of people-focused success.

Highly Commended: People's Partnership

Highly Commended: National Deaf Children's Society 

VISION & VALUES:
Winner: Solopress

The judges loved this creative and human approach to vision and values, brought to life through strong results and a fantastic video showcasing its impact on engagement. What really stood out was how the team developed values that are simple, authentic, and truly resonate with their people—avoiding corporate jargon and creating something that genuinely connects across the business.

Highly Commended: Westminster City Council

Highly Commended: Nationwide Building Society 

BEST USE OF TRAINING:
Winner: HSBC UK

The judges praised this as a truly inspiring and innovative approach to raising awareness of diversity and inclusion. Using VR technology in a clever and creative way, this project has made a real impact on how people think and behave—an outstanding example of innovation with influence far beyond the banking sector.

Highly Commended: Wren Kitchens & Bedrooms

Highly Commended: AtkinsRéalis Nuclear 

BEST CUSTOMER CENTRIC STRATEGY:
Winner: Octopus Energy

The judges were impressed by this honest and customer-first approach—recognising when things went wrong and taking swift, meaningful action. By empowering teams to own issues and make the right decisions for customers, this organisation has delivered faster resolutions, stronger engagement, and real results. A powerful example of customer-centric innovation in action.

Highly Commended: CACI & EasyJet 

Highly Commended: Essex & Suffolk Water 

OVERALL CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE EXCELLENCE AWARD:
Winner: CACI & FSAC

The judges were impressed by the transformation of the Fast Stream Assessment Centre from a paper-based process into a modern, inclusive digital service. Improving accessibility and representation from under-represented backgrounds—while maintaining rigour—the platform removes barriers for disabled and neurodiverse candidates and delivers scalable, efficient, and empathetic assessments. With a 63% uplift in successful candidates with a disability, this inspiring entry demonstrates real societal impact and outstanding results.

Highly Commended: Knight Frank 

Highly Commended: UK Power Networks

ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE:
Winner: LV=

The judges were impressed by this entry for putting best practice in DEI at the heart of organisational culture. It’s a powerful example of embedding inclusion, equity, and meaningful impact into the way the organisation operates.

Highly Commended: XPS Group 

Highly Commended: Kura

GREAT PLACE TO WORK:
Winner: Clarity Environmental 

The judges were blown away by this comprehensive and innovative entry, showcasing a wide range of activity to build a strong company culture. With exceptional employee experience, high engagement, widespread promotions, generous rewards, and a focus on wellbeing and purpose, Clarity demonstrates a truly outstanding approach to developing employees as whole people and achieving measurable life-improving impact.

Highly Commended: Bright Horizons UK 

Highly Commended: Moneypenny

Congratulations to all of our 2025 Winners!