Perkbox's Top 10 HR Heroes 2019

At Perkbox, recognition for a job well done is something we care pretty passionately about.  Whether it’s a manager who always goes above and beyond, or a CEO who does everything to make sure their employees go home happy, unsung heroes in the workplace should get the praise they deserve.  

That’s why we launched our search for the Perkbox HR Heroes of 2019: to shine a light on people making breakthroughs in the field. We wanted to find leaders who are up and coming disruptors, inspiring others to do outstanding work.

But more than this, it was about hearing from new names in HR well as industry veterans, the people frequently delivering outstanding work, introducing innovative methods, and challenging the status quo.

The nominations we received were as varied as they were impressive, spanning a wide breadth of industries and job roles.

So without further ado, here are the winners of 2019s HR Heroes:

1st. Alan Price (Peninsula)

Receiving 577 votes,  Liverpool-born Alan Price is our winner of the HR Hero Award 2019.  A leading authority on employment law and HR, Alan’s expertise and authoritative commentary on SME and people management issues is sought after regularly by major media outlets.

In his current role as the CEO of BrightHR and Group Operations Director of Peninsula, Alan is responsible for the leadership of the Group’s operations strategy, presiding over client experience and 100,000 client service interactions monthly.

2nd.  Megan Buckley (Codeweavers)

Young, up-and-coming talent, Megan Buckley has quickly worked her way up to Head of Human Resources at the software solutions provider, Codeweavers. Building innovative technology for the automotive industry, Codeweavers has gone through a period of rapid growth. When scaling a business, it’s people like Megan that excel; adapting to change and facing new challenges with a smile.

3rd. Avery Kiesling (Ampersand Commerce)

When finishing her Master's in Business Psychology from the University of Manchester, Avery Kiesling was eager to put her knowledge and expertise to practical application. Thankfully she went on to put her love for psychology to good use as HR & Talent Manager for Ampersand Commerce.

“It is so important to me to create a space where employees know that we value their work-life balance and ultimately, create an environment that is creative, inclusive, and flexible.”- Avery Kielsing, HR & Talent Manager

Congratulations, to Avery, Megan and Alan, you’re workplaces would not be the same without you. Alongside the top three, we had many more nominations, all of who deserve a pat on the back:

Miles Tilley (Glide)

Miles is the HR manager at the smart utilities company, Glide, and is passionate about company culture and employee engagement.

Andi Hirons (The Grand Hotel Brighton)

Andi is the People & Projects Manager at The Grand Brighton, which was shortlisted last year for the Caterer.com People Awards 2018.

Zarna Patel (Rated People)

Zarna is the HR Manager for tradesman platform, Rated People and has previously worked for FOODit.com and Arrow Group.

Cathi Shovlin (University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust)

Cathi is a creative and resourceful HR professional, working in the NHS, with a strong strategic and analytical outlook.

Lee Osborn (Mirus IT)

Lee specialises in HR and Recruitment in the MSP sector. Lee has worked in the recruitment sector for nearly 20 years but 3 years ago switched into HR with great impact.  

Ethan Kelly-Wilson (Epson Europe BV)

Ethan is an award winning CIPD qualified HR generalist, currently leading HR Operations and HR Systems (HRIS) teams.

Tara Mansfield (Monzo Bank)

Tara is the Head of People at Monzo Bank. Her mission is to create positive working environments, where people can do the best work of their lives.

These are just 10 of the hundreds of inspiring managers and HR professionals working hard to deliver for their employees. And in some small way, it’s paid off.