The very best of the best are recognised at gala WEA awards dinner hosted at Titanic Belfast
TWENTY companies proved to be best of the best in their categories to secure a podium finish at the 2023 Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards (WEA). More than 500 guests packed into Titanic Belfast for the culmination of the 2023 awards initiative.
From a near-record entry, many of the north’s best-known companies, ranging in size from 1,500 employees to a staff of just five, were honoured in what is acknowledged as the most prestigious business awards initiative in the north.
Irish News editor Noel Doran said: “This wonderful event, now in its 15th year, and is by a distance the largest of its kind in our region.
“We’ve again had a massive entry across the board for what is the most important night of the year in the employment sector.
“Every year we try to expand and cover new ground, and the latest innovation has a wider significance as it is the Best Sustainable Business Award, open to any organisation that sets new standards in lowering their carbon footprint.
It is particularly encouraging that it has drawn such a strong response.” Two companies – building services engineering consultancy Bennett Freehill and Belfast-based software firm Datactics – each secured a WEA double at the awards dinner, which was compered in his own inimitable style by quick-fire comedian Neil Delamere.
Bennett Freehill, established in 2020 by chartered engineer Cormac Freehill and which provides a mechanical, electrical and niche sustainability engineering design service in the UK and Ireland, won the Best Place to Work (small) and Best Wellbeing in the Workplace Strategy (small) categories.
The judges said: “There was much to set this firm apart from its rivals – notably its pioneering design excellence, its niche sustainable engineering design hub and a clear staff retention strategy.
Central to its success is its dynamic team, and it recruits and retains dynamic, talented individuals who balance office banter with business deadlines.”
And Datactics, which employs 75 people in its offices at Lanyon Quay in Belfast, landed the Team of the Year and Best Diversity, Equality and Inclusion accolades.
The company earned high praise from the awards judges, who said: “Customer success and culture are integral to everything that
“This wonderful event, now in its 15th year, and is by a distance the largest of its kind in our region. We’ve again had a massive entry across the board for what is the most important night of the year in the employment sector.”
happens here, which can be seen through its Investors in People Gold accreditation award. Diversity is extremely important in a sector historically dominated by males, and our winner has made giant strides to address this imbalance.”
Winners in that new sustainability category were Henry Brothers and Ulster Carpets. The judges said of Henry Brothers: “It has a clearly defined mission to deliver the best construction solution for every client, every time, which is underpinned by values which
happens here, which can be seen through its Investors in People Gold accreditation award. Diversity is extremely important in a sector historically dominated by males, and our winner has made giant strides to address this imbalance.”
Winners in that new sustainability category were Henry Brothers and Ulster Carpets. The judges said of Henry Brothers: “It has a clearly defined mission to deliver the best construction solution for every client, every time, which is underpinned by values which