Building on the success of last year’s ‘Best HR Initiative Award’, Spinnaker are delighted to announce an expansion of their HR awards programme which recognises outstanding achievements and innovation within the maritime sector.

These awards celebrate the exceptional efforts of organisations and individuals driving progress and transformation in people and culture across the industry.

The ‘Best HR Initiative Awards’ will be announced at the 2025 Maritime People & Culture Conference taking place in London on the 14 & 15 May. The event is attended by over 150 Maritime HR and Crewing professionals from shipping companies across the globe.

The Awards were launched in 2024 with BSM scooping the award for their Diversity, Equity & inclusion programmes. Also highly commended in the awards were Navigator Gas for their ‘Coffee Roulette’ networking initiative, Pacific Basin for its enhancement to maternity leave arrangements and Teekay for its ‘50 Years, 50 Stories’ programme.

This year, we are proud to introduce new award categories, each designed to highlight specific areas of excellence. These are:

1.Learning & Development Award: Recognising outstanding efforts in talent growth and professional development. Sponsored by Mintra.

This award can include leadership development training programmes, graduate schemes and talent pipelines, mentorship and coaching schemes.

2. Health & Wellbeing Award: Honouring initiatives that prioritise physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing and sponsored by Agwa.

This can include employee mental health and wellbeing support programmes, physical health and fitness initiatives, work-life balance policies and flexible working arrangements.

3.Technology Innovation Award: Highlighting creative applications of technology to enhance workforce management and operations.

Can include implementation of new HR systems or platforms, adoption of AI tools to improve recruitment, employee engagement, or performance management, digitalisation of training and development programmes.

4.Employee Engagement Award: Showcasing exceptional programmes that empower and connect teams.

This can include showcasing strong company culture and values-driven programmes, employee recognition and reward schemes, open communication channels and feedback loops.

5.HR Champion Award: Recognising an individual who exemplifies leadership, advocacy, and excellence in HR.

Where individuals outside of the HR department are nominated by HR teams for their active involvement in the development and execution of HR strategies, leadership in the implementation of HR systems or technology, advocacy for employee wellbeing, diversity, and inclusion within the organisation.

For more information on entering the Awards and attending the conference please email the events team or visit the conference webpage Maritime HR Conference | Event | Spinnaker