VERCIDA's 2025 Employer Excellence Awards Finalists announced

Inclusive careers site VERCIDA has officially revealed the shortlist for this year’s Employer Excellence Awards, recognising organisations that have gone above and beyond in fostering inclusive, equitable and sustainable workplaces.

Unlike traditional award programmes that rely on self-nominations or judging panels, these awards are determined through data-driven insights. Insights are derived from jobseekers’ interactions on the VERCIDA recruitment platform, including job ad engagement, employer profile interactions, and article readership, ensuring that the awards truly reflect public perception and employer impact.

By leveraging authentic public engagement, these awards highlight companies that actively enhance their workplace culture, demonstrating a commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles and creating environments that promote diversity, equity and inclusion.

“The VERCIDA Employer Excellence Awards 2025 are not judged and you cannot submit an entry. These awards are earned through content engagement and disclosure rates of jobseekers visiting Vercida over the last 12 months,” explained  Vercida’s Group CEO and Founder Morgan Lobb. “They’re a testament to the work of inhouse networks and recruiters working to ensure their organisation is inclusive, sustainable, harbours a sense of belonging and is above all authentic.”

2025’S EMPLOYER EXCELLENCE AWARDS FINALISTS

This year’s list of finalists represent a diverse range of organisations excelling in various aspects of workplace excellence. Here’s a breakdown of this year’s shortlist, by category:

Most Inclusive Job Ad

  • American Express
  • Pinsent Masons
  • Department for Work and Pensions
  • Royal Town Planning Institute

Authentic Content

  • British Antarctic Survey
  • Sopra Steria
  • Thales
  • West Yorkshire Combined Authority

Employer of Choice

  • Aviva
  • Department for Work and Pensions
  • Sainsbury’s
  • Savers

Outstanding Debut

  • Hillarys
  • Sanctuary
  • Savers
  • South Western Railway

Disability Champion

  • Arts Council England
  • City College Norwich
  • dunnhumby
  • Sage

Faith Champion

  • Department for Work and Pensions
  • Ministry of Defence
  • Sage
  • The FA

Race Equality Champion

  • British Land
  • Jacobs
  • Lloyd’s
  • Thales

Gender Equality Champion

  • Sopra Steria
  • SSE
  • Thales
  • West Yorkshire Combined Authority

LGBTQ+ Champion

  • Great Western Railway
  • Motors
  • Pinsent Masons
  • Sopra Steria

Wellbeing Champion

  • British Antarctic Survey
  • Bromford
  • Department for Culture, Media & Sport
  • We

Training and Development Champion

  • Arts Council England
  • Enfield Council
  • Hachette UK
  • Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority

Veterans Champion

  • Lloyd’s
  • Sage
  • Thales
  • TransPennine Express

Neurodiversity Champion

  • Pinsent Masons
  • Sopra Steria
  • Tetra Tech
  • TransPennine Express

Environmental Champion

  • Bromford
  • Department for Work and Pensions
  • Grosvenor
  • Royal Town Planning Institute

Work-life Balance Champion

  • British Business Bank
  • Department for Work and Pensions
  • Rail Safety and Standards Board
  • Sage

Best Overall Initiative

  • Changing the Story – Hachette UK
  • Inclusive Futures – Lloyd’s
  • Pathways – Sage
  • Women in Power – SSE

Social Media Champion

  • Aviva
  • British Antarctic Survey
  • Ministry of Defence
  • Thales

Inclusive Communication Champion

  • Aviva
  • Department for Culture, Media & Sport
  • Department for Work and Pensions
  • Sopra Steria

WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT

The winners of the VERCIDA Employer Excellence Awards 2025 will be announced on Friday 14th February. These awards serve as a powerful reminder of the positive impact that diverse, inclusive, and sustainable workplace practices have on both employees and employers alike. Click here for more information.

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