Excellence in talent management

Winner: Icon

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This article is taken from the 2025 Awards supplement in the Summer 2025 issue of Think Global People magazine

Click on the cover to access the digital edition.

View your copy of the Summer 2025 issue of Think Global People magazine.

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“Icon is committed to investing in its people. It is also clear that senior leadership within this business listen to their people and are prepared to support employee-led initiatives”. Category judges

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This year’s winner of Excellence in Talent Management is Icon. The judges were clearly impressed by their entry.

"Icon stood out for its strong commitment to employee connection and inclusion across remote and office-based teams. With high retention and outstanding client feedback, it’s clear their people feel valued – and their supportive, people-first culture sets a powerful example for the industry."

The Award was presented by Paul Williamson, Group Head of Talent Development, ATG Entertainment and member of the judging panel for a number of years.

Walking the walk

Paul remarked, “So many businesses say that people are our biggest asset. I think this is an award for an organisation that is walking the walk in terms of that. Because, to the keynote speaker, Professor Dame Vlatka Hulpic’s point earlier on, it's all about culture and how you create positive cultures in the workplace that encourages retention. Talent development is really at the heart of this, and it's a passion of mine. So, it's a real privilege to be able to judge this and to give this award.

He explained, this organisation has placed considerable emphasis on bringing together both office-based and remote workers and on fostering initiatives that help to share experiences and ideas.

Wellbeing & engagement committee

Key to their retention strategy is their employee-led Wellbeing and Engagement Committee. Acting as a peer-driven support network, the Committee provides a direct channel for employees to come together, voice concerns and drive positive change. With an increasingly remote workforce they see fostering engagement as more crucial than ever. Feedback from clients and assignees described the team as “incredibly patient, empathetic, efficient, and thoughtful,” “a necessary calming force,”. With an eight-year average service record it is notable that Icon’s core pillars of training and employee satisfaction/retention are working. In the current climate the role of a busy destination service provider is not likely to get any easier.

The emphasis on bringing together both office-based and remote workers is to be commended as is the involvement of the CEO and directors in supporting creative activities such as charitable volunteering and teambuilding alongside career development training and supporting professional qualifications. The talking heads video illustrated the creative connections theme and reflected the culture of the organisation.

They live and breathe the ethos of providing world-class relocation services built on a foundation of exceptional people.

Vanessa Szmagara, Quality & Supply Chain Director of Icon accepted the trophy on behalf of the company saying. “I just want to say thank you to the judges for those lovely comments. It's an honour to be able to represent icon and collect this award. It's a reflection really on the hard work that the team have done. And ultimately, that Icon really values the people, and we put people first in everything that we do, it's part of our culture. So thank you”.

“The team is the heartbeat of everything we do. We encourage a positive mindset, focus on the wellbeing of our staff and clients both inside and outside work and fundamentally believe in the importance of supporting and building cultural awareness.”

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See the Winners Announced Page

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Visit the Icon website

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Watch the winner's voxpop interview

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Watch the Award Ceremony video highlights

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Read about award-winning global mobility, leadership and education in the upcoming Summer issue of Think Global People magazine, with the teams and organisations being celebrated in the Relocate Think Global People Awards 2025. Secure your copy here.

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