HR's extraordinary year, properly celebrated.
▶ Watch · Personnel Today Awards 2026 — Highlights
In short —
When COVID ruled out the live ceremony, Personnel Today turned to Evessio to deliver a virtual awards night that matched the calibre of a year HR teams would never forget — and earned "what an amazing evening" from the room.
An awards year like no other
The 2020 Personnel Today Awards took place as a virtual ceremony, with COVID restrictions ruling out the traditional in-person event. The pivot didn't dampen the celebration — winners shared their excitement over video, and the night reflected the extraordinary year HR teams had just been through.
Personnel Today's editorial director, Rob Moss, said the pandemic had not stopped HR teams from submitting impressive examples of their work.
"Many of this year's entries focused on the amazing work done by HR in response to the challenges of the pandemic in their organisations. 2020 has raised the profile of the profession and the high calibre of this year's awards shortlists and winners is evidence of that."
Rob Moss · Editorial Director, Personnel TodayProfession in focus
2020 raised the visibility of HR teams — and the awards reflected the response.
Winners on video
Acceptance speeches by video brought a personal feel to the celebration.
Engaged guests
Live chat kept the room buzzing — peer recognition across every category.
Standard preserved
The credibility a profession-defining year deserved.
The room came alive
Across the virtual ceremony, the chat was electric — guests cheering each other on, recognising winners, and reflecting on the work of frontline teams. The interaction was vivid evidence that a virtual format can carry every bit of the energy of a live one.
For HR, this wasn't just another awards night.
It was a marker — recognition of a year that had pushed the profession harder than any in recent memory. The technology behind the celebration had to honour that. By all accounts, it did.
Straight from the room
Highlights from the live chat during the ceremony.
Thanks to everyone who helped put on such a great event! All those who sent in videos and to our brilliant event production team!
Well done to everyone!
Well done to the amazing NHS Team at NHS England and Improvement — and thank you Personnel Today.
You should be very proud of this virtual presentation — excellent.
Recognition when it mattered most
For a programme dedicated to recognising HR excellence, getting the platform right wasn't optional — it had to feel like a credible celebration of the people being honoured. By every measure that matters — engagement, sentiment, the calibre of the entries themselves — it absolutely did.
The 2020 Personnel Today Awards proved that when the moment matters most, virtual delivery doesn't have to mean a smaller occasion. With the right platform, it can be exactly the night the profession deserves.
Make every ceremony feel like the moment it is.
Book a demo or speak directly with our team to see how Evessio delivers virtual, hybrid and in-person awards that match the calibre of the work they recognise.