VCA Animal Hospitals

VCA Animal Hospitals is addressing the growing demand for pet health services in the United States by championing early career development in veterinary medicine. With the need for veterinarians projected to rise significantly by 2030, VCA is committed to bridging this gap by cultivating emerging talent and inspiring the next generation of veterinary professionals.

The organization takes a proactive approach, engaging with students throughout their educational journey. This includes offering meaningful support such as easing the burden of student debt and providing structured mentorship programmes. These initiatives are designed to help veterinary students transition seamlessly into successful careers, equipping them with the skills and confidence to excel in the field.

VCA’s focus on early talent development not only ensures better access to pet care but also reinforces its purpose of safeguarding the future of veterinary medicine. By fostering a strong pipeline of skilled professionals, VCA is meeting the increasing demands of the industry while supporting the aspirations of budding veterinarians. This commitment to excellence and innovation in early careers solidifies VCA’s role as a leader in shaping the next era of veterinary care.

Judges’ comments:

Judges praised VCA for its exceptional efforts in expanding its early talent workforce and providing comprehensive mentorship and training programs for veterinary students and new graduates. Their imaginative use of social media and personalized recruitment processes significantly increased new graduate hires and improved retention rates.

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Highly Commended

Mohawk Industries

Mohawk Industries is the world’s leading flooring manufacturer, dedicated to enhancing residential and commercial spaces with innovative and sustainable products. The company’s mission is to improve the places where people live, work, and play by offering flooring solutions that combine beauty, performance, and environmental responsibility. Mohawk’s vertically integrated manufacturing and distribution processes enable the production of a wide range of flooring materials, including carpet, rugs, ceramic tile, laminate, wood, stone, and vinyl.

Renowned for its industry-leading innovation, Mohawk has introduced products and technologies that set its brands apart and establish a benchmark for excellence in flooring. Over the past decade, Mohawk has grown from an American carpet manufacturer into a global powerhouse, with operations spanning Australia, Brazil, Canada, Europe, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, and the United States.

As a global leader, Mohawk is committed to sustainable growth and responsible business practices. Its focus on advancing product circularity and reducing environmental impact underscores its dedication to creating a better future. Through continuous innovation and a strong commitment to sustainability, Mohawk remains a trusted name in flooring worldwide.

Judges’ comments:

Judges praised Mohawk for its innovative “More with Mohawk” initiative, which authentically reflects the diverse experiences and aspirations of its employees. By deeply engaging with team members and embedding the brand across all levels, they significantly enhanced employee engagement, recruitment, and community involvement.

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Unify Aviation

Unifi Aviation, formerly Delta Global Services, has established itself as a leader in aviation staffing solutions since its acquisition by Argenbright Holdings in 2018. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Unifi’s Talent Acquisition (TA) team developed an agile recruitment model to meet the staffing demands of over 200 airport stations across the United States.

The company prioritizes efficiency and innovation, deploying a frontline-friendly, text-based applicant tracking system tailored to the aviation industry’s unique needs. By automating background checks, streamlining onboarding processes, and enhancing communication throughout the candidate lifecycle, Unifi has successfully improved recruitment outcomes. Leveraging HR shared services has further optimized operations, allowing the team to focus on sourcing and meeting the staffing needs of airport stations.

Real-time data tracking enables leadership to make informed, data-driven staffing decisions, ensuring Unifi remains responsive and proactive in a rapidly evolving industry. With a commitment to innovation and operational excellence, Unifi Aviation continues to set the standard for aviation recruitment.

Judges’ comment:

Judges praised Unifi for its innovative deployment of a robust, text-based ATS and automation tool that significantly improved recruitment efficiency and compliance across 230+ airports. Their technology-driven approach streamlined the hiring process, reduced manual efforts, and enhanced the overall candidate experience, leading to substantial operational improvements and cost savings.

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NRG Energy

NRG Energy places its people at the heart of its success, with the Talent Acquisition (TA) team driving efforts to attract, hire, and develop top talent. By focusing on workforce planning, talent pipeline development, and recruitment marketing, the TA team supports NRG’s mission to deliver best-in-class service to its customers. Central to this mission is a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I), as reflected in accolades such as Forbes Best Employers for Diversity and TIME World’s Best Companies in 2024.

Among NRG’s standout DE&I initiatives is the Patrol to Power (P2P) program, launched in partnership with the Department of Defense. This twelve-week paid program helps transitioning military personnel adapt to civilian careers, fostering a pipeline of skilled veterans. Additionally, NRG supports veterans through Vets+, a resource group dedicated to their career development and well-being.

With initiatives like the NRG HBCU Scholarship and 15 employee-led resource groups, NRG continues to prioritize inclusivity and community. By championing DE&I in hiring and talent retention, NRG Energy creates an environment where diverse perspectives drive innovation and success.

Judges’ comments:

Judges praised NRG Energy for its impactful veteran recruitment initiatives and inclusive support structures, which significantly increased veteran applications and retention. Their targeted campaigns and personalized onboarding processes have created a welcoming environment that values and supports veterans throughout their career journey.

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Highly Commended

Vi Senior Living

Vi Senior Living operates ten Life Plan Communities across the United States, providing residents with premium accommodations, exceptional dining experiences, diverse lifestyle programmes, and a welcoming social atmosphere. With a mission to elevate the lives of its residents, Vi has also earned recognition as a top employer for its dedication to employee development and satisfaction. The organization’s success is rooted in its dual focus on creating enriching experiences for residents while investing in the growth of its workforce.

Through a commitment to excellence, Vi ensures that its communities not only meet but exceed the expectations of those who call them home. Employees are given opportunities to grow professionally, supported by comprehensive training and development initiatives. This creates a work environment that mirrors the care and quality extended to residents. Vi’s holistic approach—prioritizing resident satisfaction alongside employee well-being—continues to position the organization as a leader in senior living.

Judges’ comments:

Judges praised Vi Senior Living for its creative and user-centric website, which includes personalized content, mobile-first optimization, and seamless ATS integration. These features significantly enhanced the candidate experience, resulting in increased application rates and improved hiring efficiency.

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Brighton Health Plan Solutions

Brighton Health Plan Solutions’ Talent Acquisition (TA) team has played a pivotal role in driving the organization’s growth and success, particularly during a period of rapid expansion. Over two years, Brighton scaled its workforce from 400 to 600 employees while maintaining a focus on talent quality and inclusivity. The TA team operates as a strategic partner across business areas, ensuring that hiring processes align with Brighton’s long-term goals and organizational values.

The team’s approach combines agility, data-driven strategies, and an unwavering commitment to an exceptional candidate and hiring leader experience. This has enabled Brighton to meet increased talent demands without compromising cultural fit. Over the past year, the team has successfully hired over 100 employees across various functions, advancing the company’s DE&I objectives to foster a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

Brighton Health Plan Solutions’ dedication to embedding its mission and values into every stage of recruitment has helped attract and retain top talent while supporting the organization’s sustained growth.

Judges’ comments:

Judges praised Brighton Health Plan Solutions for its original approach to personalizing the candidate journey and embedding its core values and DE&I strategy throughout the recruitment process. By leveraging data insights and modern ATS technology, they have created a culture-first recruitment process that significantly enhances candidate engagement and satisfaction.

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Highly Commended

SoftwareOne

SoftwareOne’s Talent Acquisition (TA) team was instrumental in executing a key component of the organization’s global Go-To-Market transformation. Tasked with building a new digital sales hub in Nashville, TN, to support mid-market customers, the team achieved this ambitious goal in under six weeks. This rapid delivery underscored their ability to manage complex, time-sensitive projects while meeting organizational needs.

Operating in a brand-new market, the TA team successfully sourced, recruited, and onboarded the talent required to launch the sales hub, setting the foundation for SoftwareOne’s new operating model. Their strategic focus and agility enabled them to address the unique challenges of establishing a presence in a new location.

By aligning recruitment strategies with the organization’s broader goals, SoftwareOne’s TA team demonstrated their value as a critical driver of success. Their efforts in Nashville serve as a model for future expansion and showcase their ability to deliver impactful results under tight timelines.

Judges’ comments:

Judges praised SoftwareOne for its exceptional efforts in establishing a new digital sales hub in a brand-new market, achieving a remarkable 97% conversion rate with a diverse and high-quality candidate pool. Their inclusive recruitment strategies, combined with a streamlined and efficient hiring process set a new standard for future initiatives.

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7-Eleven

The Talent Acquisition (TA) team at 7-Eleven is a driving force behind the company’s growth, playing a crucial role in recruiting top talent for a diverse range of roles, from corporate positions to high-volume store operations. To meet growing recruitment demands, the team has embraced innovation, focusing on efficiency and scalability.

A standout initiative includes the implementation of Paradox, a cutting-edge recruitment tool that automates key tasks such as screening, application processing, and interview scheduling in under 10 minutes. This innovation has halved the time-to-fill for positions, saving over 40,000 hours weekly across corporate stores in the U.S. and Canada. Additionally, the team is preparing to launch the Workday ATS system, which will bring enhanced analytics and automation to their recruitment processes, further improving efficiency.

The TA team also unified 7-Eleven’s career site, consolidating the organization’s family of brands into a single platform to streamline the candidate experience. Through these efforts, 7-Eleven’s TA team has established itself as a leader in recruitment, demonstrating a commitment to excellence in talent acquisition while addressing the evolving demands of the business.

Judges’ comments:

Judges praised 7-Eleven for its exceptional integration of different technologies within the context of a strategic restructuring. This greatly improved recruitment efficiency and candidate experience. Their efforts in streamlining processes and enhancing diversity have set a new standard for talent acquisition excellence.

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Highly Commended