Our most recent winners’ & Judges’ feedback

Sagra Group

Commenting on Sagra Group, the winner in the Best Communication category, the chairman of the judges said:

“Congratulations to The Sagra Group for running a brilliant communications campaign for its revamped confectionary brands that has stolen a march on competitors. After discovering that consumers thought the packaging on its chocolate wafer bar and hazelnut spread were old-fashioned, it redesigned its brands to appeal to Gen Z. Its communications campaign to raise awareness of the new formula, logo and packaging using social media, its website, TV and print, worked wonders with sales leaping by 33% after six months and its chocolate spread brand growing by 26% against a shrinking confectionary market.”

Croft

Best Customer Focus

Commenting on Croft, the winner in the Best Customer Focus Award category, the chairman of the judges said:

“Congratulations to Croft, a manufacturer of luxury architectural hardware, for growing its business on the back of outstanding customer service. Dating back to 1868, its ethos is based on quality, creating long-term relationships and great service. Products are developed through decades of refinement, research and development, and customer feedback. Its return rate of only 0.6% is a testament to the quality of its craftsmanship. Such is the quality of products and service that customers come back to Croft time and time again.”

Osmangazi Elektrik Dagitim A.S.

Climate Action Award

Commenting on Osmangazi Elektrik Dagitim A.S.(OEDAS), the winner in the Climate Action Award category, the chairman of the judges said:

“Commenting on Osmangazi Elektrik Dagitim A.S.(OEDAS), the winner in the Climate Action Award category, the chairman of the judges said: “Congratulations to OEDAS for being the first to introduce a new more efficient radio frequency system for identifying breaks in its electricity distribution system that has dramatically cut its carbon footprint. Its partial discharge detection project, measures radio frequency emissions on electricity lines to detect failures, doing away with the need for engineers to painstakingly check 261,240 electricity poles and cutting vehicle usage by 70%. Well done to OEDAS for taking a giant leap forward in efficiency, reducing outages, cutting costs and meeting its Net Zero goals.”

Turkiye Is Bankasi

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative/Programme

Commenting on Turkiye Is Bankasi, the winner in the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative/Programme Award category, the chairman of the judges said:

“Commenting on Turkiye Is Bankasi, the winner in the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative/Programme Award category, the chairman of the judges said: “As part of its bank of the future vision, Turkiye Is Bankasi is doing a brilliant job at encouraging more women to get into work and closing the gender pay gap. In 2022, the employment rate was 30.4% for women compared to 65.0% for men and to change this, it launched an educational campaign for women that offers mentoring, financial support and in-person and online training. Congratulations to Is Bankasi for educating thousands of women and helping a large number launch or expand their own business.”

Sagra Group

Best Brand Development

Commenting on Sagra Group, the winner in the Best Brand Development category, the chairman of the judges said:

“Following research, Sagra Group discovered that although its confectionery products were liked, the functional packaging was lost on Gen Z. After reframing the brand for its chocolate bars and chocolate hazelnut spread with a new logo, packaging using red and a catchy slogan for its chocolate spread ‘First Sarelle,Then Smile’, the delicious snacks are making a comeback in the market. Backed up by a multimedia marketing campaign, sales soared by 33% in the first six month of the campaign with Sarelle becoming a market leader.”

Abu Dhabi Police GHQ

Best Innovation

Commenting on Abu Dhabi Police, General Headquarters, the winner in the Best Innovation category, the chairman of the judges said:

“Congratulations to Abu Dhabi Police for harnessing artificial intelligence to automate HR systems and make life better for staff. Its new innovative HR TECH smart self-service system automates and consolidates six HR systems, including recruitment, staff feedback and project management, into the one package. HR TECH enables Abu Dhabi Police to reach its strategic goals around managing staff and enhancing the quality of life for employees. Employee satisfaction rates leapt to 93.5% against 52% in 2018, highlighting the massive difference HR TECH has made to the police organisation.”

Coca-Cola Turkiye

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative/Programme

Commenting on Coca-Cola Turkey, the winner in the Best Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative category, the chairman of the judges said:

“Congratulations to Coca-Cola Turkey for running several impactful initiatives designed to empower women and get them into rewarding employment. The company’s My Sister Project and My Sister My Shero initiatives have reached thousands of young women and given them the skills and knowledge they need to strengthen their socio-economic position. While 65.3% of men are employed in Turkey, only 30.4% for women are in work. Coca-Cola’s campaigning for women is having a huge impact on the imbalance and helping them to realise their dreams.”

Evri

Best Sustainable Process/Product

Commenting on Evri, the winner in the Best Sustainable Product/Process category, the chairman of the judges said:

“Congratulations to parcel delivery company Evri for placing its impact on the environment high on its agenda and achieving great reductions in emissions. Through its sustainability policy led by its environment, social and governance steering committee, it has produced impressive reductions in emissions by switching its fleet to renewable energy. At the end of 2023, Evri had reduced operational carbon emissions by 31% and made a dramatic effort to reduce water consumption, putting it on track to reach net zero in direct and indirect emissions by 2035!”

PromoVeritas Ltd

Best Staff Training & Development Programme

Commenting on PromoVeritas Ltd, the winner in the Best Staff Training & Development category, the chairman of the judges said:

“The secret behind PromoVeritas’ Ltd success is its comprehensive staff training programme that starts the day a recruit joins. As no courses exist for its business of verifying prize competitions, it has developed its own training in-house and even has its own college PromoAcademy. On joining, staff go through an induction programme, are appointed a buddy and can only perform tasks once they have completed the relevant training at the academy. Congratulations to PromoVeritas Ltd for giving staff the gift of learning and the skills they need to progress their career.”

Reeder

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative/Programme

Commenting on Reeder, the winner in the Best Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative category, the chairman of the judges said:

“With 60% of its workforce female, Reeder Technology, a Turkey-based smartphone manufacturer, has introduced an educational programme called Girls Do Code that is helping women develop the skills they need for a career in IT. The initiative aims to equip female students with theoretical knowledge and practical skills in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics to help them progress their career and improve their quality of life. Congratulations to Reeder for empowering women with education and helping thousands to skill up and improve their prospects.”

Vakif Katilim Bankasi AS

Best Place To Work Award

Commenting on Vakif Katilim Bankasi AS, the winner in the Best Place to Work category, the chairman of the judges said:

“Congratulations to Vakif Katilim Bankasi for boosting employee satisfaction to unprecedented levels with its in-house communications campaign. The company found that staff satisfaction is not just about pay - employees feel more motivated if they have a sense of belonging. To create a more positive workplace culture, the finance company introduced an almost endless range of benefits including social clubs, staff events and health advice to make people feel part of the company. The campaign has worked wonders because feedback shows that staff are more loyal and motivated than ever before!”

Communere Ltd

Best Customer Focus

Commenting on Communere Ltd, the winner in the Best Customer Focus category, the chairman of the judges said:

“Launched in 2018, IT consultancy Communere has become a thriving business by focusing on customer needs and providing high-quality outsourced software developers at affordable rates and making use of cutting-edge technologies. It employs agile management methodologies and robust reporting, enabling it to create seamless flexible customised solutions built around the client’s requirements and expectations. Judging by the glowing feedback and comments, and the excellent customer retention rate with some being with the company from scratch, Communere has a winning approach to customer service.”