HLM Architects named Employer of the Year at AJ100 Awards 2020

The category recognises the best practice for employees, assessing issues such as staff satisfaction, workplace culture, benefits and staff turnover. Practices needed to demonstrate what initiatives have been put in place to help motivate, train, and support their staff.

Judges were impressed by HLM Academy, a personal and professional development framework that was set up by HLM Architects to help all staff reach their full potential. This year, the firm is investing in Linked-in Learning, providing everyone with a licence to access over 10,000 online courses. HLM Architects was also applauded for their ‘9-day fortnights’ scheme, which allowed the firm to embrace agile working early on.

During the pandemic, HLM Architects introduced the Woebot App, which runs on an artificial intelligence platform and offers ‘in the moment’ emotional support. The practice is also one of the first in the industry to have an established mental health first aider on hand to support employees

Karen Mosley, Managing Director, HLM Architects, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to receive this award.  I’m blessed to work with such inspiring individuals every day and together we’ve created an environment which helps to motivate, train and support everyone to be at their best.  We’ve always acknowledged that lifestyles are complex and providing a supportive and nurturing environment has never been so important.  It’s the moments that matter in life and we’re driven more so now to take what we’ve learned over the past 6 months to create an even better place for everyone to excel; where lives are more balanced, ideas can freely flourish, connections can be forged without boundaries, and individuals can thrive wherever they might be.”

The judges said, ‘this practice has a clear commitment to developing talent, both beyond the practice and right the way through the business and has created an organisation where employees evidently feel motivated and valued.’

This year is the AJ100 Awards’ 25th anniversary, with 13 categories including the new categories of Sustainability Initiative of the Year, Sustainability Champion of the Year, and Community Impact of the Year.