Celebrating Success At Our Annual Conference
Celebrating Excellence: Nicholas Associates Group Annual Awards Winners Announced
On Saturday, 1st February, we gathered at the stunning Forest Pines Spa & Golf Resort to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our colleagues at the Nicholas Associates Group Annual Awards. The day was a fantastic opportunity to recognise the dedication, hard work, and exceptional contributions of individuals and teams across our business.
With a room full of talent, passion, and commitment, the competition was fierce—but a select few took home the top honours. Join us as we celebrate our 2025 award winners and their incredible accomplishments!
COLLEAGUE KUDOS
This award is nominated and decided upon by all of the colleagues across our Group. The top 3 winners were:
Sam Ward – Systems Specialist, NA Group
Cameron Davies – Senior HR Recruitment Consultant, Ashley Kate
Jane Bayliffe – Recruitment Coordinator, Stafforce
BEST NEWCOMER AWARD
This is awarded to a new employee who regularly goes the extra mile, exceeds expectations, Demonstrates Group values and behaviours, embraces ‘Be Your Best’
Since joining the team just six months ago, this individual has made a remarkable impact through their hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm. Their positive attitude has been a great motivator for the team, and their openness and support have been invaluable. In their short time with us, they have consistently gone the extra mile when managing and delivering key projects, quickly building strong relationships with colleagues, clients, and candidates. Their pace, consistency, and sense of humour have been standout qualities, making them an incredible asset to the Group.
Congratulations to Danny Marshall – Operations Manager, Stafforce
COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD
This award recognises employees who make a positive impact beyond the workplace, volunteering their time, skills, and resources to support community initiatives and charitable causes.
This award goes to not one but two people this year; they consistently lead the Group’s charity initiatives, including fundraising for local charities, participating in charity walks, organising Christmas gift collections, attending charity events and supporting our Chairman Nick’s charitable efforts in the background. Their contributions are essential in promoting our CSR initiatives within our bids and tenders, setting us apart from our competitors.
Congratulations to Amy Ewens, People & Talent Manager, and Rosie Taylor, Compliance Manager – Nicholas Associates Group
LEADERSHIP AWARD
This award acknowledges employees who exhibit exceptional leadership qualities, inspiring and empowering their teams to reach their full potential while upholding Group values and vision.
This person has consistently grown year on year, developing into a true leader with infectious enthusiasm.
They are passionate about what they do, repeatedly going the extra mile to support, inspire and develop their team.
They have created an engaging environment in which to work, which is evidenced by reduced attrition levels within their area of responsibility, further supporting this award for Leadership.
Congratulations to Faye Wilkes – Head of Client Partnerships, Stafforce
PERSON GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT AWARD
This is awarded to an employee who actively pursues personal and professional development opportunities, demonstrating a commitment to continuous learning, growth, and self-improvement.
This person is the perfect example of someone committed to personal development and continuous growth, making them a standout employee for this award.
Over the past year, they have immersed themselves in numerous online courses and actively engaged in networking events to expand industry knowledge.
Their passion for growth extends to their dedication to a four-year degree apprenticeship, where they have already achieved a first in their initial two assignments.
Congratulations to Owen Kynman – Brand Marketing Executive, Nicholas Associates Group
EXCELLENCE AWARD
Recognises employees who consistently strive for excellence in their work, demonstrating outstanding performance, innovation, and dedication to achieving high-quality results.
The winner of this award has been instrumental in strengthening our relationship with a key client. Their dedication has ensured exceptional service from day one.
The client consistently praises their ability to deliver and proactively meet their needs, citing them as a key reason for their satisfaction. With a 99% fulfilment rate this year, this person has exceeded expectations. Their commitment to our success is truly remarkable – a superhero in our team!
Congratulations to Monika Vass – Account Manager, Stafforce
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
Nominations from colleagues for individuals who embody the Group’s Mission and Vision by their words and actions in the performance of their role.
This individual is a true unsung hero, consistently supporting all areas of the business without fanfare. Their ability to deliver high-quality work with impressive speed and precision, even under pressure, is a testament to their unwavering commitment to excellence. Always willing to step in wherever needed, they consistently go above and beyond for all brands. Their attention to detail, reliability, and exceptional work ethic are second to none – never seeking recognition, they fully embody the qualities of an unsung hero.
Congratulations to Jenny Begley – Group Bid Manager, Nicholas Associates Group
EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
Enables people to be their best, regularly going the extra mile, always exceeding expectations, receiving positive feedback from stakeholders, demonstrating Group values and behaviours, embracing ‘Be Your Best’, and successfully contributing to Group performance.
This person was recommended for their exceptional expertise and unwavering dedication. Their outstanding knowledge and problem-solving skills consistently set them apart as a true professional. They are always available to provide timely and effective solutions, patiently explaining processes to ensure everyone feels confident and informed. They approach every challenge with calmness, collaboration, and a positive attitude, often going above and beyond to find solutions—no matter how complex the issue.
Congratulations to Sam Ward – Systems Specialist, Nicholas Associates Group
MOST SUCCESSFUL TEAM
Achieve and exceed the team’s objectives whether internal or externally focused, adding to the Group’s values and Mission.
This team consistently consider the broader group’s needs and provide invaluable support across various projects aimed at securing new business for our group. The team are friendly and approachable and always ready to assist, making collaboration seamless and enjoyable.
Congratulations to Olano
CUSTOMER CENTRICITY AWARD
Honours employees who prioritise customer satisfaction and go above and beyond to deliver exceptional service, demonstrating a deep understanding of customer needs and exceeding expectations.
This team continues to exceed expectations, consistently delighting both customers and candidates with impressive success rates and outstanding feedback from annual surveys. With zero audit errors and a sharp focus on exceptional customer service, they’ve earned a reputation for reliability and excellence. Remarkably, they haven’t lost a single client in the past three years, further solidifying their strong presence and growing influence and specialism in the marketplace.
Congratulations to Apprentice Employment Agency
HIGHEST BILLING TEMP DESK
This desk was first established to strategically support the retention of our flexible workforce having organically grown over the past 5 years. This team and leader consistently drives activity to ensure they are always ahead of the competition. Every organisation with vessel operations in the Humber Ports knows Stafforce Ports is their partner of choice which is a credit to this team.
Congratulations to Stafforce Ports Humber Branch
HIGHEST GROWTH ON PRIOR YEAR
Awarded for the largest % increase in contribution Year ON Year at individual P&L level.
Congratulations to Olano
HIGHEST BILLING PERM CONSULTANT
Highest annual GP generation in the perm market by individual Consultant.
Congratulations to Amanda Underhill – HR Recruitment Business Manager, Ashley Kate HR & Finance
BEST OF THE BEST AWARD
Awarded for the largest % overperformance of contribution at individual P&L level.
Congratulations to Team Scarborough
And finally, it was time for a special recognition award!
ENDURANCE & EXCELLENCE AWARD
Congratulations to Bruce Allen – Group Chief Financial Officer, Nicholas Associates Group
Congratulations once again to all of our winners and nominees—your hard work does not go unnoticed, and we are proud to have you as part of the NA Group of companies.
As we look ahead to another exciting year, we remain committed to recognising and rewarding excellence across our business. Thank you to everyone who joined us in making this event such a success—we can’t wait to do it all again next year!
