Manage your L&DI awards applications

This award will recognise an outstanding and innovative Leadership or Management Development Initiative at any level within an organisation, from entry level supervisor through to C-suite/executive level, or may relate to an initiative spanning multiple organisational levels.

Note: graduate development programmes are specifically excluded from this category and award applications for graduate programmes should be made to the relevant category.

Entries that are successful in this category will typically demonstrate:

• A structured and coherent approach to problem diagnosis utilising novel and innovative techniques and strategies
• A demonstrated ability to integrate evidence-based practices with emerging approaches to address clearly specified and understood organisational challenges
• Clear and direct links to organisational strategy and contextual requirements
• Tangible impact on organisational practices as evidenced by behavioural, cultural and other relevant changes
• Measurable impact on organisational outcomes as demonstrated by relevant and appropriate metrics, including ROI, enhanced stakeholder value, engagement etc
• Clear evidence of sustainability, with a detailed outline of steps to embed new practices and accompanying longer-term measures

This award will recognise an outstanding and innovative approach to talent strategy and talent development, contributing to:

• The achievement of the organisation’s strategy and
• Enhancement of the employee experience and life cycle

Entries that are successful in this category will typically demonstrate:

• A clear understanding of the organisation’s view on ‘Talent’
• Why the group of roles or individuals for whom the initiative focuses on are considered to be critical to the organisation
• How the initiative has impacted the organisation’s performance in a tangible way and therefore justified the effort and resource dedicated to the initiative

This award will recognise an outstanding and innovative Organisation Development Initiative focused on enhancing the strategy, people, organisation and/or culture agenda, presenting outcomes that demonstrate a relevant and impactful transformation.

Entries that are successful in this category will typically demonstrate:

• Exemplar initiatives that are strategically planned and bring about systemic changes in organisations
• Appropriate and relevant management and leadership, business models, processes, structures, and systems
• Strategic and systemic thinking rather than exploring an initiative in isolation of wider aspects of organisation development
• How the initiative delivers on the specific problem identified but also acknowledges how the initiative supported the wider organisational aims as summarised above
• Measurable impact on organisational outcomes as demonstrated by relevant and appropriate metrics, including ROI, enhanced stakeholder value, engagement etc
• If a submission relates to a Learning & Development initiative, it is important the submission shows how this initiative considers the wider aspects of organisation development as described above

This award will recognise an outstanding organisation which actively recognises the diversity of its people and seeks to promote inclusion in ways that benefit all employees. The successful organisation will demonstrate a culture of learning and development focused on creating a culture of inclusion and ensuring full access to and positive participation in the workplace for all.

Entries that are successful in this category will typically demonstrate:

• A structured and coherent approach to DE&I training which aims to provide concrete ways for employees to engage in respectful and positive interactions in the workplace while reducing discrimination, prejudice and bias
  
  
• Clear and direct links to organisational strategy, ongoing and retention objectives, and contextual requirements
  
  
• Evidence of qualitative, meaningful and sustainable learning and development opportunities for individuals who are at risk of exclusion from the workplace
  
  
• Measurable impact on organisational outcomes as demonstrated by relevant and appropriate metrics, including ROI, enhanced stakeholder value, engagement, recruitment and retention, etc.
  
  
• Clear evidence of sustainability, with a detailed outline of steps to embed new practices as evidenced by behavioural, cultural and other relevant changes and accompanying longer-term objectives

This award will recognise an outstanding and innovative initiative which includes any type of learning intervention or L&D strategic impact that is facilitated by the effective use of technology.

Entries that are successful in this category will typically demonstrate:

• The impact of technological innovation to enable learning or learning transfer, and how this was measured.
• How the technological innovation affected the wider organisation, including impact measurement and the integration of technology into organisational development plans.
• How this technological initiative supports a diverse range of learners and how they involved learners to ensure the final product was fit for purpose.

Evidence of how you will ensure the innovation will remain sustainable.

This award will recognise an organisation which is aiming to create a coaching culture or mentoring initiative to improve leadership, performance, engagement or any other strategic or developmental objective.

Entries that are successful in this category will typically demonstrate:

• Initiatives which are adopted at each level in a division or organisation, is inclusive, and embraces diversity.
• Evidence of executive commitment to a coaching / mentoring culture throughout the organisation/division
• An ongoing, consistent experience and demonstrable benefits for all individuals
• Evidence of measurable impact on organisational outcomes as demonstrated by relevant and appropriate metrics, including ROI, enhanced stakeholder value, engagement etc.

This award will be made to a consultancy, agency, or in-company collaboration that has successfully delivered qualitative solutions to a target audience. The submission should clearly demonstrate evidence of good collaboration, understanding and co-operation to achieve a particular goal or business outcome. It should be outputs based and focus on the innovative solutions and quantifiable results achieved.

While the submission should be collaborative and well balanced, one member of the partnership should submit the application and all queries and communications will be directed to them in the first instance. Should the application be shortlisted, any stakeholder representatives may attend the presentation to the judges, within the parameters set out in the judging process.

Entries that are successful in this category will typically demonstrate:

• A clear driver for the initiative that is aligned to the organisation’s strategic objectives
• How the strengths of the collaboration combined to positively impact the organisation and its people. This may include financial metrics (revenue, profits, ROI, productivity), customer engagement/satisfaction levels, people-related indicators (eg, absence levels, staff turnover, engagement).
  • How staff were properly informed and consulted by the provider, and their interests were taken on board in both delivery and design.
• The external perspective brought by any of the partners which shed new light on the situation or business problem, which may not have previously been seen or appreciated from within.
• A clear communication strategy between both parties
• How the target audience was supported through the processes to ensure the sustainability of the initiative from within.

This award will recognise an outstanding and innovative Graduate Development Initiative designed to nurture talent in an innovative and effective way.

This may relate to a Graduate Development Initiative or Internship at any level within an organisation and at any career stage.

Entries that are successful in this category will typically demonstrate:

• Overall organisation buy-in from senior management and all departments, if appropriate.
• The programme is part of the company’s long-term talent management strategy
• Evidence of a robust learning and development plan including challenging assignments, structured rotations providing exposure to different aspects of the business
• Evidence of a dedicated coaching or mentoring intervention to support the graduate’s career journey and the development of a professional network within the business.
• Evidence of measurable impact on organisational outcomes as demonstrated by relevant and appropriate metrics, including ROI, enhanced stakeholder value, engagement etc.
• Evidence of sustainability, with a detailed outline of a strategy to continuously evolve the programme to respond to the changing needs of the business.

This award will be made to an organisation from all sectors (including for profit and not for profit) which has excelled across a range of aspects of the function and achieved quantifiable results which have added value in an innovative way.

Should you need / wish to include any images to the submission please upload them below - and clearly mark them with a reference within the text area - i.e. figure 1

Harvest proudly sponsors this award to honour the memory and life’s work of Pearse Walsh.

Pearse founded Harvest almost 40 years ago. His vision for developing outstanding learning and development experiences, still informs the Harvest strategy today.

The Pearse Walsh Award celebrates and recognises the qualities that Pearse valued when partnering with clients – a passion for continuous learning, a high level of alignment, teamwork, and impactful solutions.

We are proud that the Pearse Walsh Award is now in its seventeenth year.
Harvest is delighted to announce that the Pearse Walsh Award has been updated for 2023 entrants. This award will now recognise an outstanding Learning & Development team, that brings a high level of value to their organisations learning culture and activities. This can be demonstrated through the team’s innovation, alignment, teamwork, and engagement with the organisation.

To be eligible, a team should demonstrate:

• A sound and impactful approach for engaging with their organisation’s stakeholders to fulfil the delivery of real strategic needs.
• An innovative and unique approach to the development of learning initiatives.
• A high level of alignment, teamwork and fun within their work and their roles.
• A passion for continuous learning and development of their own knowledge, skills, and mindsets.

If your team can demonstrate the above, please complete the application form and tell us all about it.