People Management Awards 2026 celebrate a profession solving global business challenges

On Thursday 24 September, hundreds of people professionals gathered at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London for the CIPD People Management Awards 2026. Hosted by broadcaster Ben Shephard, the black-tie evening brought the profession together to celebrate the work transforming organisations and working lives.

The CIPD announced winners across 24 categories on the night, recognising people teams and individuals whose work is changing organisations across the globe. Three organisations took home two awards each this year.

Winners tackling the profession's biggest challenges

Northern Trains won two awards on the night. It took best apprenticeship scheme for its Trainee Train Driver Apprenticeship, tackling a critical skills shortage while opening up careers to underrepresented groups, and best resourcing initiative for We're Not Northern Without Her, a campaign that's driven a sharp rise in female applications to the rail industry.

PZ Cussons also won twice. It took best change management initiative for steering a major business reset through a difficult external environment, and best employee experience initiative in the private sector for The PZ Cussons Experience, a programme designed to close the gap between how staff felt about the company and how they experienced it day to day.

And in Uzbekistan, fintech company JSC Click won two awards, for best CSR/ESG initiative and best digital/technology initiative in HR/L&D, for platforms blending national tradition with modern HR technology.

A profession recognised worldwide

JSC Click weren't the only winners showing the global reach of the profession. In Saudi Arabia, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority won best L&D initiative in the public and third sector for a training programme that sharpened officers' skills in detecting smuggling attempts.

And in Palestine, Haneen Abdallah Khdour won the Michael Kelly Outstanding Student Award for her work at microfinance institution Faten, where she built dashboards that replaced guesswork with evidence in staffing decisions.

"This helped make productivity gaps more visible and supported more informed discussions about staffing needs, employee performance and development opportunities across branches."

Neil Carberry celebrates the profession

CIPD chief executive Neil Carberry addressed the room on the eve of taking over the role, thanking Peter Cheese for his leadership.

He told the room that nights like this matter. They're a rare chance to celebrate work well done, and a reminder of what our profession is capable of. For Neil, that's exactly why the CIPD exists: not just to set the standard, but to champion the people behind it.

"We must be the source of the best thinking, the best practice and the best advocacy for you, our profession."

Neil will share more on his plans for the CIPD at our Annual Conferenceand Exhibition in November.