The HR&D Awards are back!

Tell us about the HR&D Awards?

The North East HR&D Awards are all about celebrating the contribution of the HR&D profession in the North East whilst raising the profile of the region as a fantastic place to live and work. We welcome applications from organisations and HR&D professionals throughout the North East of England, and you’ll find a range of categories to choose from – all showcasing the best people practices from those who work in HR, L&D and other specialisms.

When is this year’s ceremony?

The showpiece ceremony will take place at The Fed, Gateshead, on Thursday, June 5.

Who can enter?

Entries can only be accepted from organisations whose base, or a substantial proportion of its business, is within the North East of England. This includes the NE, SR, DH, DL and TS postcode areas.

Who will judge the awards?

The 2025 North East HR&D Awards will be judged by members of the North East Work & Talent advisory board, who reflect a cross-section of expertise and experience from organisations across the region.

How many categories can organise enter?

You may enter a maximum of three categories, but you must complete a separate submission for each category.

Can you give us some top tips for entering the awards?

Give yourself plenty of time! As the old saying goes, if something is worth doing it’s worth doing well. Give yourself ample time to consider your thoughts. What have been the highlights? What’s been achieved?

Ask a colleague to look over your application. It’s hard sometimes to be objective about your own work. When you’ve worked so closely on a project it’s difficult to see errors or omissions – ask a colleague or two to look over your application. They may recommend including something that you haven’t thought of or come up with a new idea.

Follow the criteria to the letter. Judges will be looking at how to score entrants in each category so make sure you give clear concise answers and make your entry easy to read with subheads or bullet points.

Put yourself in the shoes of the judges. When you have completed your application – check back and honestly ask yourself if it is user friendly? Can I make some elements easier to read? Have I broken up the text into clear bitesize chunks?

Don’t miss the deadline! Make sure you get your entry in by 5PM on Monday, April 7, 2025!

Where can I learn more about sponsorship opportunities?

We can provide you with a partnership media pack which provides detailed information about the extensive opportunities available this year. For sponsorship packages, table reservations or further information about the 2025 North East HR&D Awards, please contact: Lesley Hampson – [email protected] or Dawn Owens – [email protected].