APPLICATIONS have opened for entries in the 2023 Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards, which will again recognise the enormous talents and achievements of a wide range of groups and individuals from all sections of business in the north.
The awards initiative has grown steadily since its inception in 2006, and the gala culmination at awards night in Titanic Belfast on Thursday June 8 is rightly regarded as the most important night in the calendar for the employment sector.
A launch event at Deane’s at Queen’s brought together this year’s partner sponsors Errigal Group, Options Technology, Carson McDowell and Queen’s University, along with category sponsors including NI Chamber, NI Job Finder, Glandore, FScom and Titanic Belfast.
“We could never consider an initiative of this magnitude without the support of our sponsors, and their endorsement remains a crucial factor,” Irish News editor Noel Doran said.
“The countdown to June 8 starts now, and it’s going to be a wonderful evening at Titanic Belfast, hosted for the second year running by Neil Delamere, who did such a brilliant job last year.”
There are 10 key categories this year (full details and criteria at irishnews.com/wea), each of which will be split into small/medium or medium/large sub-sectors. Entries remain open until Wednesday the 19th of April, with the judging taking place on Thursday April 27.
“Many businesses, and certainly all those in this room tonight, are integrating sustainability practices into their core business models. Indeed most are adopting sustainability strategies in the same way that they develop their other strategic plans,” Irish News business editor Gary McDonald said at the launch.
“Sustainability covers such a wide remit. For example, a company might determine that it generates too much waste, or that its hiring practices are causing harm to the surrounding communities.
“Companies I speak to on a regular basis are determining sustainability goals, and identifying the metrics it will use to measure its achievements. They are setting ambitious targets for themselves and being creative in how they embed sustainability into virtually ever facet of their business.”
Marking the launch of the sustainability category, the awards launch pictures were taken at the Tropical Ravine at Belfast’s Botanic Gardens, first opened in 1889 and built on the site of the former orchid and propagating houses. Today it houses plant species such as the Killarney Fern, orchid, banana, cinnamon, bromeliad and some of the world’s oldest seed plants.
Over the coming weeks, The Irish News will shine a spotlight on our business partners across the Workplace & Employment Awards.
Full details and criteria at irishnews.com/wea.
The Main Categories
• Best Place To Work
• Team of the Year
• Best Education, Trainee or Apprentice programme
• Employer for the Future
• Best Innovation and Leadership
• Best Employee Development Programme
• Best Wellbeing in the Workplace Strategy
• Best Diversity, Equality and Inclusion
• Corporate Social Responsibility Programme of the Year
• Best Sustainable Business Award (new for 2023)
