CELEBRATING BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION

BRAND NEW FOR 2025

Get recognised by one of the UK’s most trusted business titles!

Management Today is proud to launch an exciting NEW awards program designed to spotlight the most impactful transformations. Created to recognise and celebrate the organisations that are redefining the future, businesses that refuse to stand still, that embrace change and that set new standards for success.

Whether you’re driving technological innovation, redefining customer experience, embedding sustainability into your core strategy, or leading a bold cultural shift, these awards shine a light on the companies and leaders making transformation happen.

A business transformation is a fundamental change in how a company operates, delivers value or positions itself for the future. 

At its core, business transformation means:

  • Reinventing how your business works
  • Responding to new challenges or opportunities
  • Creating lasting, measurable impact

We have a category for every type of business transformation.



In a world of constant disruption, whether from new tech, economic shifts or changing consumer expectations, transformation is how businesses survive and thrive. It’s the difference between keeping up and leading the way.

But real change is tough. It takes vision, risk and leadership. We created these awards to celebrate the organisations and teams making those bold moves and to inspire others to do the same.



The Awards are open to entries from:

Disruptive SMEs scaling up through innovation

Global corporations transforming their industries

Public sector organisations driving meaningful change

Consultancies & advisors leading transformative strategies

✔ Communications, Marketing, Digital and Advertising agencies helping clients to transform brands, positioning and performance.


CATEGORIES & CRITERIA


Best Use of Technology in Transformation

Summary:

This category recognises organisations that have successfully leveraged technology as a catalyst for change. Whether it’s improving internal operations, enhancing customer experience or launching a new digital product, this award celebrates tech that delivers real, measurable transformation.

What Judges Are Looking For:

  • A clear business challenge or goal that required transformation
  • The technology implemented (e.g. cloud, automation, AI, new platforms, digitisation)
  • How the technology was integrated into the organisation (not just adopted)
  • Evidence of impact - such as increased efficiency, revenue growth, better customer outcomes or employee engagement
  • Consideration of organisational and cultural change alongside the tech roll-out

Example Entry:

A logistics company digitised its end-to-end supply chain using cloud-based tracking, predictive analytics, and real-time customer interfaces. This reduced delivery times by 30%, improved customer satisfaction scores, and gave leadership actionable data that reshaped their operating model.

Best Use of AI in Transformation

Summary:

This award recognises the most innovative and effective use of artificial intelligence to drive transformation. Whether it improved internal efficiency, elevated customer experience or launched a new AI-driven product, it should demonstrate AI’s real-world impact.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • A clearly defined business problem/opportunity
  • How AI was applied (e.g. automation, predictive analytics, chatbots, machine learning)
  • Consideration of ethical, legal and data implications
  • Measurable outcomes linked to AI integration
  • Scalability or potential for ongoing impact

Example Entry:

A retail bank used AI to power a personalised digital assistant, handling 70% of customer queries and reducing call centre costs by 40% while improving customer satisfaction.

Most Transformational M&A Deal

Summary:

This award celebrates mergers, acquisitions or disposals that resulted in meaningful, long-term change - not just financial gain. It’s about deals that reshaped strategy, operations or culture.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • Strategic rationale behind the deal
  • Integration planning across systems, teams and culture
  • Clear before-and-after impact (financial, operational, brand)
  • Long-term value creation
  • Leadership and change management effectiveness

Example Entry:

A global tech company acquired a cybersecurity startup to rapidly expand its service offering, integrating talent and tech to open up a new market within 12 months.

Best People-Led Transformation

Summary:

This category rewards organisations that put people and culture at the heart of their transformation - driving change from within and creating lasting impact through leadership, engagement and values.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • A compelling reason for the cultural or people transformation
  • How employees were engaged in the process
  • Evidence of leadership alignment and communication
  • Tangible outcomes (e.g. retention, engagement, productivity)
  • Cultural or behavioural shifts that stuck

Example Entry:

A healthcare provider restructured its leadership model and introduced bottom-up decision-making, leading to a 25% increase in employee satisfaction and faster service delivery.

Best Customer-Focused Transformation

Summary:

This category honours organisations that transformed their operations, services or strategy to become truly customer-centric. It's about using customer insight to deliver long-term value.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • Evidence of deep listening to customer feedback
  • How insights were turned into action
  • Measurable improvements in customer experience or loyalty
  • Alignment of product/service strategy with customer needs
  • Internal cultural shift toward customer-centric thinking

Example Entry:

A utility company redesigned its billing system based on customer input, reducing complaints by 60% and boosting satisfaction scores to their highest level in five years.

Most Sustainable Transformation

Summary:

This category recognises businesses that placed sustainability at the core of their transformation - beyond compliance or CSR, embedding it into strategy, operations and culture.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • Clear sustainability goals tied to business strategy
  • Systemic or structural changes (not just one-off projects)
  • Measurable environmental or social impact (e.g. carbon reduction, circular models)
  • Buy-in from leadership and employees
  • Transparency in reporting and long-term commitment

Example Entry:

A manufacturer overhauled its production processes to eliminate waste, transition to renewable energy and redesign packaging - cutting emissions by 45% and costs by 12%.

Best Public or Third Sector Transformation

Summary:

This award celebrates outstanding transformation within the public or third sector - improving services, access, efficiency or outcomes for the communities they serve.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • A clear need or driver for change
  • Innovative use of limited resources
  • Evidence of improved outcomes for users/stakeholders
  • Process, cultural or structural shifts
  • Measurable results in delivery, access or satisfaction

Example Entry:

A local council digitised its housing services, reducing application time by 50% and improving access for vulnerable residents.

Best SME Transformation

Summary:

This category celebrates small and medium-sized enterprises that have undergone bold transformation to grow, pivot or thrive. It’s about agility, ambition and impact on a leaner scale.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • A compelling story of transformation
  • Smart use of resources and innovation
  • Evidence of impact: growth, profit, efficiency or new market entry
  • Strategic vision and leadership
  • People or culture shifts, if relevant

Example Entry:

An independent clothing brand replatformed to e-commerce during the pandemic, adopted a circular fashion model, and grew revenue 200% in 18 months.

Best Global Transformation

Summary:

This award recognises transformations rolled out across multiple countries or global teams, demonstrating alignment across borders while navigating complexity.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • A global challenge or strategy with local execution
  • Coordination across regions, languages and cultures
  • Consistent implementation of systems/processes
  • Evidence of worldwide impact
  • Leadership and communication across geographies

Example Entry:

A professional services firm unified 20+ regional offices onto a single digital platform, standardising delivery and increasing collaboration globally.

Best Advisor

Summary:

This category recognises a consultancy or advisor who played a critical role in delivering transformation for a client - whether strategic, cultural, operational or digital.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • A clear brief and role in the transformation
  • Innovative thinking and strategic insight
  • Strong collaboration and client partnership
  • Tangible outcomes driven by the advisor’s input
  • A credible and well-evidenced impact statement

Example Entry:

A digital consultancy helped a national charity modernise its services through data-driven insights and agile coaching, leading to a 40% uplift in donations.

Best Brand Transformation

Summary:

This award celebrates organisations that have successfully transformed their brand identity, positioning or perception to better reflect who they are today and where they’re going.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • Clear rationale and objectives for the brand change
  • Strategy behind the visual and verbal identity
  • Internal and external alignment
  • Evidence of impact: awareness, relevance, sales or perception
  • Integration with broader business transformation

Example Entry:

A financial services firm repositioned its brand for younger audiences with a new visual identity, tone of voice and digital-first campaigns - resulting in a 30% increase in new accounts.

Best Campaign Transformation

Summary:

This category recognises the reinvention of a campaign strategy that resulted in greater engagement, stronger performance or a more powerful connection with audiences. It could be a shift in creative approach, media mix, messaging or targeting that fundamentally changed how a brand speaks - and how people respond.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • A clear shift from a previous campaign or strategy
  • A bold or innovative new creative direction
  • Use of insight, data or audience feedback to inform the transformation
  • Multi-channel execution and integration (if relevant)
  • Tangible outcomes - engagement, awareness, conversions or brand sentiment

Example Entry:

A healthcare brand overhauled its awareness campaign from fear-based messaging to empowerment-driven storytelling, resulting in a 65% increase in social engagement and record-breaking web traffic.

Best Agency Transformation

Summary:

This award honours an agency - whether creative, digital, PR, media or strategic. That has transformed how it operates, serves clients or grows. It could involve a business model shift, structural change, new service offerings or a bold culture reset.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • A clear rationale for the transformation (e.g. market disruption, growth ambition, internal challenge)
  • Strategic actions taken - new capabilities, tech, leadership, processes or services
  • Cultural alignment and employee engagement
  • Evidence of impact: client wins, revenue growth, retention, innovation or awards
  • A forward-looking mindset - how the transformation future-proofs the agency

Example Entry:

A mid-sized creative agency pivoted to become a hybrid brand/tech consultancy, restructuring its leadership, investing in AI tools and launching a new innovation division - doubling revenue and landing two FTSE 100 clients within 12 months.

PICK THE RIGHT CATEGORY FOR YOU...

Select the type of transformation your company/organisation has gone through from the list below to find out more:


KEY INFO

Entries should showcase work carried out between 1 July 2023 to 31 January 2025. Entrants should be based in the UK or have a significant UK footprint except for the Best Global Transformation category where entries are welcomed from all regions.

DEADLINES 

Deadline: 4 September

Final Deadline: 25 September

Winners Announced: 2 December 

PRICING

Deadline: £425 + VAT per entry 

Final Deadline: £440 + VAT per entry

2025 CATEGORIES

Changing for the better? Get the recognition you deserve.

Best Use of Technology in Transformation

This award recognises an organisation that has deployed technology to help bring about fundamental change, with demonstrable impact on key indicators. That could mean utilising new software to revolutionise customer experience or employee engagement, developing an entirely new offering through technological innovation or embedding digitisation across your entire operating model.

Best Use of AI in Transformation

While AI is still in its infancy in terms of realisation of potential, it is already having a profound effect on businesses. This category celebrates innovative and effective uses of AI, whether it is improving the efficiency of internal processes or launching a new product with AI at its heart.

Most Transformational M&A Deal

There is a profound difference between deals that add to the bottom line and those that lead to duplication and inefficiency. This award is designed to celebrate M&A that has brought about positive, lasting measurable change.

Best People-led Transformation

This award recognises the power of changing organisational culture, and how it can lead to important and long-lasting effects on the bottom line.

Best Customer-focused Transformation

Listening to and acting on feedback from customers is a distinct and under-rated skill, and this award seeks to shine a light on organisations which have used market intelligence and customer interaction to change the way they operate.

Most Sustainable Transformation

No business can afford to ignore the importance of sustainability to operating models – but there is a difference between simply doing your bit and making the climate crisis central to everything you do.


Best Public or Third Sector Transformation

Entries are welcomed in this category from all areas of the public sector, including central government departments, local government organisations, NHS trusts, educational institutions or associated organisations, as well as registered charities or other not-for-profit organisations.

Best Brand Transformation

Brands transform in the same way as the businesses behind them do – and conceiving, managing and communicating a new brand to customers and markets requires critical thinking and a broad range of skills. This category celebrates brand transformations, and the internal and external experts who make them possible.

Best SME Transformation

Entries are welcomed in this category from organisations with 250 or fewer employees globally. Entrants should outline the rationale for their transformation, how it was undertaken – which could include the technological, cultural, functional or brand changes that were necessary – and clear evidence of how it has contributed to their central mission and key performance indicators over time. 

Best Global Transformation

Entries are welcomed in this category from organisations which are headquartered outside the UK and do not have significant UK operations.

Entrants should outline the rationale for their transformation, how it was undertaken – which could include the technological, cultural, functional or brand changes that were necessary – and clear evidence of how it has contributed to their central mission and key performance indicators over time. 

Best Advisor

This category recognises the crucial importance of quality advice and support to effective organisational transformation. Entrants should be consultancies working across any business discipline – including but not limited to operational and functional support, marketing, brand, people, technology, operations, data or change management – or sole trader advisors, but all entries must have the written support of any client companies which are mentioned in detail.

WHY ENTER

Not just another award — real recognition for real transformation.

RECEIVE EDITORIAL COVERAGE

You and your team have done brilliant work - let’s make sure it’s seen by the people who matter. That’s why every single shortlisted entry for the Transformation Awards will receive an individual write-up and be published in Management Today and distributed to an audience of 50,000 senior leaders.

2

GET RECOGNISED

The Management Today Transformation Awards are judged by leaders and decision-makers who get transformation. It’s not just a badge of honour, it’s a statement about the impact you’ve made.

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BENCHMARK YOUR SUCCESS

See how your work measures up against the UK’s most ambitious organisations.

It’s a great way to reflect on your achievements, learn from others, and prove you’re leading from the front.

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CELEBRATE YOUR TEAM

Transformation is powered by people.

This is your moment to spotlight the individuals and teams driving your success, show them you’re proud - and attract even more brilliant people to join you.

MEET THE 2025 JUDGING PANEL


JOIN OUR JUDGING PANEL


Nominations are welcome from senior management consultants and leaders in cutting-edge transformation developments. Nominate yourself or put forward a colleague using the link below.

The final judging panel will be comprised of an inclusive range of individuals to fully represent the industry. 

ABOUT THE BRAND


For decades, Management Today has been the go-to source for insight, inspiration, and recognition in the UK business world. With a long-standing legacy of championing innovation and growth, we amplify the stories of trailblazing companies and make heroes of the leaders driving change.

AMPLIFY YOUR WIN

If you're a winner at these awards, shout about your success even more with our amplification package

Do the people that really matter know you’ve won big?

We’re here to help. We want to get your win out there, to the audience, in front of prospective clients (and competitors!).

That’s why we’ve put together an instant shout-about-it package: quick turnaround content that won’t destroy your marketing budget.

PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES


The Transformation Awards celebrate the exceptional work consultancies are doing in collaboration with transformation experts to drive business innovation and success.

By partnering with the Awards, you actively demonstrate your commitment to supporting impactful transformations, while showcasing your brand alongside industry leaders in this space.

This partnership offers a strategic opportunity to align your company with cutting-edge transformations, engage with a targeted audience, and achieve your business goals. It’s more than just brand visibility - it’s about creating meaningful connections. We’ll work with you to craft a tailored approach that resonates with your objectives, engaging the community through online platforms, social media, email, and in-person interactions.

Please contact [email protected]