2023 Winners

THE CANDIDATE EXPERIENCE AWARD

Judges’ Comment: VHR impressed the judges by proving the return on investment in ethical recruitment, DE&I embedded talent solutions, and its training and thought leadership to upskill candidates.

THE DE&I AWARD

Judges’ Comment: Judges praised Mark Williams as they are a champion of DEI and emiratisation, demonstrating genuine inclusion and impressive metrics from revenue to retention from their successful implementation of innovative strategies and initiatives, including its emirati careers fares.

THE CONTRACT RECRUITMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR

Judges’ Comment: VHR continue to demonstrate outstanding and comprehensive service. They are taking on client challenges as their own, and are clearly agile to their needs, with an exemplary training proposition to create talent as well as sourcing it.

THE CLIENT SERVICE AWARD

Judges’ Comment: Salt have quickly grown and established themselves with impressive brand awareness and a great reputation built by client testimonials and word of mouth. Their investment in their own talent development is enabling Salt to deliver exceptional client service with a strong market specialism and depth of expertise.

THE BEST RECRUITMENT COMPANY FOR EMIRATISATION

Judges’ Comment: Mark Williams is recognised and respected as a specialist agency with a core strength in emiratisation that is clearly putting customers’ needs at the forefront, has strong brand differentiation for clients and candidates so it’s embedded in culture and service.

THE GROWTH RECRUITMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR

Judges’ Comment: VHR impressed judges with its agility and innovation, adapting to client expectations with new, high value talent solutions to drive not only outstanding growth but profit with purpose.

THE TALENT SOLUTIONS COMPANY OF THE YEAR

Judges’ Comment: Marc Ellis impressed judges with their strong focus on DEI and their academy to develop the expertise of their recruiters, who are valued by clients as strategic advisors. Marc Ellis demonstrated a truly inclusive culture, client-led innovation and value creation, and success in their ongoing expansion in the region.

THE BEST RECRUITMENT COMPANY TO WORK FOR (Under 50 EMPLOYEES)

Judges’ Comment: JB Andrews is scaling with a strong employer brand aligned with purpose and values. It has balanced investment in technology to enhance service with training and support for its people, with a particular focus on mental health and wellbeing.

THE BEST RECRUITMENT COMPANY TO WORK FOR (OVER 50 EMPLOYEES)

Judges’ Comment: Marc Ellis demonstrated how autonomy and the empowerment of their people has driven innovation and its personalised training and development of personal brand has driven excellence in client delivery and growth.

THE SPECIALIST RECRUITMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR

Judges’ Comment: VHR is widely recognised as a specialist, opting to focus on depth of expertise and credibility in its sector instead of being tempted to expand into other adjacencies. Its training proposition to create talent and investment in content and thought leadership truly differentiates VHR in the region.

THE LEADER OF THE YEAR

Judges’ Comment: Mitchell demonstrated authentic leadership in driving innovation and investment in people to deliver exceptional client and candidate service that has supported scale. It was clear to the judges that Mitchell takes a ‘hands on approach’ to being a leader and sponsors development of staff to improve the business.