Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce has revealed the finalists for the Employer of the Year Award at the 2026 Business Awards.
Sponsored by Consultiv Utilities, the award recognises businesses that have demonstrated excellence in creating a positive, inclusive and high-performing workplace, looking at how employers support, develop and engage their people through recruitment, training, development, communication, wellbeing and community outreach.
Now in its 11th year, the Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards is the largest business awards programme in the region. Winners will be crowned at a gala awards ceremony at Uttoxeter Racecourse on Thursday 9 July 2026.
The four finalists are:
SYTECH Consultants – A Stoke-on-Trent digital forensics and cyber security consultancy that has built a wellbeing infrastructure around the unique pressures of its work, including biannual psychological screening for practitioners, 1,046 hours of student placement learning and 41 applicants per vacancy across 15 roles in the past year. Find out more, here.
The HEX Group – A 550-person, six-division manufacturing group based in Hixon that invested £1.1m in workforce pay during the cost-of-living crisis, reduced reported accidents by 80% through its Behavioural Based Safety programme, and opened a dedicated Centre of Excellence in 2025. Find out more, here.
Dukes Bailiffs Limited – A Stone-based enforcement firm holding UK Top 50 Best Workplace status, with 92% of staff saying it is a great place to work against a UK average of 54%, attrition below 5%, and an entirely female management board and senior leadership team. Find out more, here.
Ford Mainwaring – A Wolstanton-based M&E services provider that has grown 49% since 2022, with nearly half its workforce holding long-service status, £72,000 invested in employee development in 2025 alone, and six apprentices currently enrolled with a guaranteed job on completion. Find out more, here.
To find out more about the 2026 Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards, visit staffordshirechambers.co.uk/awards.
