Rebecca Cooper, Head of People and Development at ACT Training, Wales’ leading training provider, has been named a finalist in the first ever Wales HR Awards, which will recognise and celebrate the achievements of HR professionals in a black-tie ceremony taking place at The SSE SWALEC, Cardiff, on 23 March.
The Awards have been created by the Wales HR Network, a leading networking platform for HR professionals, partnered by Cardiff-based commercial law firm Darwin Gray, and Acorn, Wales’ specialist recruitment and training agency.
Rebecca Cooper has been nominated in the Best HR Professional in the Education Sector category for her role of Head of People and Development at ACT Training and is one of three finalists in the category.
The event, which will be hosted by BBC television presenter Sian Lloyd, is the first of its kind in Wales and has been welcomed by leading businesses throughout the country.
The Awards ceremony will include performances from Only Boys Aloud and Welsh National Opera as well as an address from guest speaker Lord Price, the Minister of State at the Department for International Trade and former Managing Director of Waitrose.
Fflur Jones, Head of Darwin Gray’s Employment Law and HR department, said: “Despite being at the core of every successful company, HR is very often an under-acknowledged profession. That’s why I think this event has generated such a positive response; it seems to have really struck a chord.”
Sarah Jones, Acorn’s Head of Marketing, added: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the response and support to the first Wales HR Awards. The number of entries received exceeded all our expectations, and the calibre of nominees is outstanding.”
Commenting on the announcement, Rebecca Cooper said: “I am absolutely delighted to be shortlisted and I feel very privileged to be involved in the first ever HR Wales Awards. It is a fantastic feeling to be nominated for my work, however, I would not be here today without the amazing team I have behind me who have all worked really hard to deliver our HR objectives and plan.”
Each category will be judged independently by Acorn’s Head of HR, Genevieve Ryan, Darwin Gray’s HR Consultant, Fiona Sinclair and Director of Calland Wright Consulting, Alison Wright.
Winners will be announced at the black-tie award ceremony, held on 23 March at The SSE SWALEC, Cardiff.
