We are the professional body for HR and people development. We've been championing better work and working lives for over 100 years. We help organisations thrive by focusing on their people, supporting our economies and societies. We’re the professional body for human resources (HR), learning and development (L&D), organisation development (OD) and all people professionals – experts in people, work and change. With more than 160,000 members globally – and a growing community using our research, insights and learning – we give trusted advice and offer independent thought leadership. And we are a leading voice in the call for good work that creates value for everyone.

Esh Group is one of the region’s leading privately-owned construction and development businesses. The Group’s main trading arm, Esh Construction, is a Tier 1 contractor providing civil engineering, affordable housing, refurbishment, and private housing services to the private and public sector.

Esh directly employs over 800 staff and has over 450 regional supply chain partners. Built on solid financial foundations, the company has an uncompromising focus on health, safety, and quality, and promotes a culture that empowers its workforce to be forward thinking and innovative.

Esh is a proud Armed Forces ‘Gold ERS’ holder, committed to eliminating carbon from its operations by 2040 through its ‘Even Greener’ strategy and continues to support local through its Queen’s Award winning ‘Constructing Local’ strategy.

At Motivait, we design, develop, and manage digital solutions that inspire motivation, participation, and engagement of individuals, always considering the culture, context, and objectives of our clients. By blending our expertise in Consulting, Creative Design & UX,
Gamification, and Communication with innovative Technology, we create bespoke solutions designed to deliver tangible benefits and measurable results.

Our solutions connect with over 45 million active users across more than 50 countries, managing 100 million interactions annually. We work across various sectors, spanning Customer Loyalty, Employee Engagement, Education & Learning, and Community Engagement. Our team is made up of dedicated professionals with diverse skills, talents, and backgrounds, all united by a shared passion for solving engagement challenges.

Sustainable change is a journey, and we are here to support our clients in every step of the way. From initial concept design to implementation and beyond, we help create solutions that evolve with our client’s needs. By continuously tracking performance and analysing insights, we identify new opportunities for growth and improvement, making sure solutions stay relevant and effective over time. We adapt based on real user feedback and changing priorities, helping organisations stay agile, innovate, and achieve lasting success.

From every start-up story and scale-up journey to the business leaders and the international explorers. We are North East business. We are connectors, champions, accelerators and the voice for regional success, for every business, for every individual at every step. From our networks and knowledge transfer to our member value and business services, we put you, your team and your business first so we can be what you need at every stage in your journey.

We are proud to sponsor the Excellence in Organisational and People Development category at this year’s HR&D Awards. We are passionate about supporting initiatives that foster growth, enhance workplace culture and drive long-term success through effective people development.

Northumbrian Water Limited supplies 2.7 million customers in the North East with both water and sewerage services, trading as Northumbrian Water.

In 2023, Northumbrian Water Group was named the world's most ethical water company for the 13th time and was recognised in the 2024 list of the UK’s Best Workplaces (Super Large) by the Great Places to Work Institute and awarded Centre of Excellence in Wellbeing status.

At NPH Group, we are dedicated to enhancing workplace health and wellbeing across the northeast of England. As a leading SEQOHS accredited provider of occupational health services, we understand the unique challenges faced by HR managers in fostering a healthy, productive workforce. Our comprehensive range of services is designed to support your employees' physical and mental wellbeing, ensuring a thriving work environment.

What sets NPH Group apart is our commitment to personalised service. We work closely with HR managers to develop customised health and wellbeing strategies that align with your organisation's goals and culture. Our state-of-the-art facilities and innovative health technologies ensure that your employees receive the highest standard of care. Partnering with NPH Group means investing in the long-term health and success of your workforce. Let us help you create a healthier, happier workplace where employees can thrive.

Our team of experienced professionals offers tailored solutions that include health assessments, stress management programmes, ergonomic evaluations, and mental health support. We pride ourselves on our proactive approach, identifying potential health risks early and providing effective interventions to mitigate them. This not only helps in reducing absenteeism but also boosts employee morale and productivity.

Square One Law is a commercial law firm and certified B Corporation with offices in Newcastle, Leeds and Darlington. We are a progressive and values driven organisation with a distinctive culture where our lawyers are actively encouraged to be creative and fearless.

We treat our clients’ businesses as if they were our own and provide a clear way forward by giving opinions rather than the more traditional approach of listing legal options. Our focus is not just to provide a high-quality service, but find solutions, add value and support our clients.

People, environment and community are important to us and our purpose is to protect and help our clients’ businesses to grow by taking action and effecting change in the communities in which we live and work. Our help doesn’t stop once a piece of work is completed. This is why many of our clients have stayed with us since we were a start-up 14 years ago. We’ve got your back.

The HR&D awards are a fantastic way to celebrate the region’s brilliant HR, L&D and People champions. As a business that supports these professionals, sponsoring the awards is our way of giving back and recognising their amazing talents.

Talentheads is revolutionising recruitment and retention, transforming how growing businesses attract, engage, and keep top talent. We go beyond simply filling roles, we integrate into organisations, crafting innovative talent and upskilling strategies that fuel long-term growth and success.

Our unique approach focusses on both recruitment and retention, finding values matched candidates and developing them. We don’t just find talent; we embed ourselves within our client partner organisations, working as their brand, to create hiring and retention strategies that drive long-term success. By challenging traditional recruitment methods, we help businesses build engaged, high-performing teams that stay and grow.

At Talentheads, we believe every individual is #MoreThanANumber. Our campaign champions the idea that people aren’t just CVs or statistics, they are the heart of thriving organisations. We work alongside businesses to create cultures where team members feel valued, supported, and empowered.

We are proud to support the North East HR&D Awards for the third year running, recognising the incredible contributions of HR and L&D professionals. As Talent Partners, we celebrate those who go beyond traditional hiring and drive real change within their businesses and the wider industry. Talentheads isn’t just another recruitment company, we’re THE long-term talent partner, transforming the way organisations think about hiring and retention.