Great Place to Work Special Awards celebrate the exceptional. While being recognised as a Best Workplace is a significant achievement in itself, these awards go a step further, highlighting organisations that go above and beyond in specific areas of workplace excellence. From fostering innovation and inclusion to prioritising wellbeing, sustainability, and long-term commitment to culture, these organisations demonstrate what it means to lead with purpose and put people at the heart of everything they do.
Team award
Slieve Russell Hotel, Golf & Country Club
This Special Award shines a spotlight on organisations that go the extra mile to support their people, foster collaboration and build an inclusive, people-first culture. Slieve Russell Hotel embodies these values, earning the team award for their exceptional focus on teamwork and dedication to creating an environment where people thrive.
At the heart of their success is the work of several internal groups, most notably their people & culture ambassadors. This dedicated team plays a crucial role in shaping the hotel’s workplace by collaborating on key policy updates and ensuring every department has a voice in decision-making.
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Their efforts have resulted in significant enhancements across numerous policies, including the service recognition policy and progressive updates to bereavement leave, gender expression and identity, fertility, menopause and volunteering policies. By prioritising employee feedback, the hotel has crafted inclusive, forward-thinking policies that truly reflect the needs of their workforce.
“The Slieve Russell Hotel has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to its people by creating a culture that prioritises inclusivity, collaboration, and genuine support. Their focus on empowering employees and ensuring every voice is heard sets a powerful example for the hospitality industry,” says Cathal Divilly, chief executive at Great Place to Work. “This award is a testament to the hotel’s unwavering dedication to building a people-first environment, where teamwork and employee wellbeing are at the core of their success.”
Culture improvement award
Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General
The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General plays a crucial role in certifying the accounts of 287 organisations across Ireland and auditing the spending of €307 billion euro of public money. As part of their responsibility, they are deeply committed to ensuring value for money and accountability in the public sector. In addition to their recognition as a Best Workplace, Great Place to Work is delighted to recognise them for their outstanding efforts in transforming workplace trust through thoughtful and impactful action planning. By identifying key areas for growth and addressing them strategically, they have made significant strides in fostering a culture built on high performance, collaboration and mutual respect.
Their extensive action planning process involved gathering employee feedback, prioritising areas of improvement, and implementing initiatives designed to create a more connected and supportive environment. These efforts have resulted in a marked increase in trust levels across the organisation, with employees feeling more aligned with leadership and confident in the organisation’s mandate.
“This award is a testament to the transformative power of deliberate and thoughtful action,” says Jim Flynn, partner at Great Place to Work. “By prioritising employee feedback and turning it into meaningful change, the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General has shown how a commitment to improvement can significantly enhance trust and collaboration across the board. Their extensive action planning efforts have not only strengthened their workplace culture but have also set a powerful example of how listening and acting with intention can drive success.”
Wellbeing award
DHL Global Forwarding, Freight
DHL Global Forwarding, Freight’s innovative approach to wellbeing and mental health awareness has played a pivotal role in their recognition for the wellbeing award. Through their partnership with the Elephant in the Room initiative, the organisation has effectively sparked important conversations around mental health. This initiative aims to de-stigmatise mental health discussions by placing artistically designed elephant sculptures in workplaces, symbolising openness and support for mental health conversations. By adopting an elephant sculpture, DHL is publicly declaring its dedication to fostering an environment where mental health is openly discussed and prioritised. What started with the acquisition of a symbolic elephant, named Cróga – “bravery” in Irish – grew into a movement that resonated across DHL’s global offices. The initiative was quickly embraced by senior leaders, who were so impressed by the passion behind the project that they each purchased their own elephants for their respective offices. This impactful campaign has since spread to other DHL locations, further demonstrating the company’s commitment to fostering a supportive and open environment for employee wellbeing.
“Wellbeing is an essential cornerstone of a thriving workplace, and companies that prioritise mental health create environments where employees feel supported and valued,” says Fania Stoney, business sevelopment strategist at Great Place to Work. “DHL Global Forwarding, Freight’s commitment to promoting open conversations around mental health exemplifies this approach. Through the Elephant in the Room initiative, they’ve not only sparked meaningful dialogue, but also set a powerful example of how a simple, yet impactful, symbol can create lasting change.”
Learning and development award
Dornan, A Turner Company
Dornan, a Turner company, has earned this award for their innovative approach to learning and development with the creation of the Lessons Learned App. In the fast-paced world of engineering and construction, Dornan’s commitment to capturing and applying knowledge has set them apart as a leader in the industry.
The Lessons Learned App, integrated into Microsoft Teams, streamlines the process of gathering, documenting and sharing insights in real time. This tool ensures team members can quickly record observations — whether celebrating successes or identifying areas for improvement — without waiting until the end of a project. By embedding these insights into their processes, Dornan enhances operations, improves project outcomes and mitigates risks.
The initiative is built on two pillars: replicating best practices and turning lessons into opportunities for growth. By systematically documenting and sharing knowledge, Dornan ensures that the wisdom gained from past projects is applied to future endeavours, benefitting their people, clients, and operations alike.
“This award highlights Dornan’s commitment to capturing knowledge in real time and transforming it into actionable insights that drive operational excellence,” says Brían Sutton, Client Relationship Manager at Great Place to Work. “By enabling teams to share lessons learned instantly, Dornan has fostered a culture of continuous improvement that benefits not only their employees but also their clients and the industry as a whole.”
Employer Branding Award
Heineken Ireland
Heineken Ireland’s We Make The Star campaign is a perfect embodiment of why it has earned this prestigious employer branding award. Developed in partnership with Atomic, the campaign not only celebrates Heineken’s achievements, but places a spotlight on the people who drive its success. The Heineken star is more than just a logo, it symbolises the collective passion and commitment that fuel the organisation. Through this campaign, the company highlights how its workforce unites to create real value — not only for the brand but also for the communities it serves. This campaign leverages strong visuals and messaging to communicate a compelling employer value proposition. It aligns Heineken Ireland’s reputation as a world-class brand with its identity as a world-class employer.
“This campaign is a perfect example of how employer branding can go beyond promoting a company to truly showcasing the essence of its culture. By highlighting the creativity, collaboration and passion of their employees, Heineken Ireland demonstrates a deep commitment to creating an inclusive and empowering work environment,” says Marina Rivas, brand & marketing manager at Great Place to Work. “This campaign not only attracts top talent but also reinforces the strong bond between the company’s values and the people who drive its success. It’s this clear alignment between brand, culture, and employee engagement that makes Heineken Ireland a deserving winner of this award, setting the standard for how powerful and authentic employer branding can be.”
ESG Award
Aura Holohan Group
Aura Holohan Group’s unwavering commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles has earned them this award, recognising their efforts to make a meaningful difference in the communities they serve. Central to Aura’s impact is their dedication to corporate social responsibility (CSR), which guides every aspect of their operations.
The company’s initiatives reflect a deep focus on inclusion and community support. Programmes like their Sensory Hour, Autism Awareness Weeks and Special Olympics Coaching demonstrate Aura’s leadership in fostering an environment where everyone can participate and thrive. Aura is also a trailblazer in embracing employees with disabilities, providing inspirational examples of individuals excelling and growing within the organisation.
In addition to their inclusion efforts, Aura Holohan Group runs impactful public awareness campaigns, such as the Annual Drowning Prevention Week, and organises fundraising activities to support local communities. These initiatives underscore Aura’s dedication to creating safer, healthier and more inclusive environments for all. By prioritising social impact, inclusivity and employee development, Aura Holohan Group exemplifies the values at the heart of the ESG award, and their efforts serve as a model for how businesses can drive positive change.
“Aura Holohan Group’s dedication to ESG principles truly sets them apart as leaders in driving positive change,” says Claire Mc Geever, client success manager at Great Place to Work. “Their holistic approach to social responsibility and inclusion demonstrates how businesses can have a lasting and meaningful impact on the communities they serve. By embedding these values into their core operations, Aura has created a model for how businesses can not only drive growth but also make a real difference in the lives of others. Their unwavering focus on sustainability, inclusivity, and community wellbeing is exactly why they are so deserving of this award.”
Great Place to Work ambassador award
Gary O’Mahoney, AbbVie Ireland
This award recognises an individual who embodies the values of the Great Place to Work model, fostering a culture of mutual trust and a sense of pride within their organisation, while also making a meaningful impact on the wider Great Place to Work community. Through their leadership and dedication, they not only foster a culture of excellence but also inspire others to build and sustain outstanding workplaces.
Human resources director at AbbVie Ireland Gary O’Mahoney has long demonstrated a deep commitment to making workplaces better — not just for business success, but for the people who power that success. Throughout his career, he has consistently championed workplace culture, driving meaningful change through humility, professionalism and a steadfast belief in the power of trust. He has played a pivotal role in creating environments where employees feel valued, heard and empowered to thrive.
Gary has served in a variety of roles at AbbVie, beginning as an HR business partner before taking on a global role as change management & training leader in Boston. Upon his return to Ireland, he was instrumental in embedding the Great Place to Work approach at AbbVie’s largest Irish site in Westport, setting the standard for workplace excellence. Today he leads a dynamic HR team across all AbbVie sites in Ireland, ensuring that the organisation’s people-first culture continues to evolve and strengthen.
“Senior leaders at AbbVie take a broad, enterprise-wide view of success, focusing on long-term impact rather than short-term gains,” says Jim Flynn, partner at Great Place to Work. “Gary exemplifies this mindset, ensuring that AbbVie’s sustained achievements are built on a foundation of trust, high performance, and an unwavering commitment to creating a truly great workplace experience for all. We are proud to recognise his contributions over the past 12 years and name him the 2025 Great Place to Work Ambassador.”
Best Workplaces Laureate award
CluneTech, Volkswagen Group Ireland and Guidewire
The Best Workplaces Laureate award is a special distinction given to companies that have been recognised as one of the Best Workplaces for the 10th year. This prestigious achievement highlights the long-term dedication of organisations to creating an exceptional workplace culture that prioritises trust, employee wellbeing, and a people-first approach. Only a select few companies that maintain their excellence year after year are awarded this title, setting them apart as leaders in workplace culture. The Laureate award serves as a testament to the sustainability of these organisations’ efforts, showcasing that outstanding workplace practices are not fleeting but ingrained in their very core.
This year, we are proud that CluneTech, Volkswagen Group Ireland and Guidewire have been recognised as Laureates, a true mark of their ongoing commitment to creating environments where employees thrive. Their achievement is not just a celebration of their success, but a powerful example to all companies — whether they’re achieving recognition for the first time or aiming to reach this milestone — that it is possible to build and maintain a great workplace culture. Their journey proves that with consistent focus on employee trust, growth and wellbeing, any organisation can achieve long-term success and inspire others to do the same.
