Revisiting the Digital Transformation & AI Awards 2025, the Best People & Culture Impact Award brought together a shortlist of organisations recognised for placing people and culture at the heart of their digital transformation programmes, each making a distinct case for how human-centred approaches drive meaningful and lasting organisational change.

Diageo was shortlisted for its One initiative, Driving Sustainable Practices, put forward for a programme that wove sustainability thinking into its people and culture agenda, demonstrating how responsible business practice and digital transformation could be pursued as mutually reinforcing rather than separate priorities.

Keltech earned its place on the shortlist through its People Focused Excellence programme, recognised for keeping human capability and employee experience central to its transformation efforts and making a compelling argument that operational improvement delivers its best results when people investment is treated as a core pillar rather than a supporting consideration.

Sandvik AB Group and EY were shortlisted for their Transforming Together initiative, a collaborative programme that drew on the combined expertise of a global manufacturing group and a leading professional services firm to advance cultural and organisational change in tandem, placing the human dimensions of transformation on equal footing with its technical ambitions. The judging panel identified Transforming Together as the strongest entry in the category, with Sandvik AB Group and EY taking home the Best People & Culture Impact Award.

The category recognised organisations that leveraged digital transformation to foster inclusivity and a desirable workplace culture, with judges assessing entries on the rationale behind the People & Culture objectives, the strategy and implementation approach adopted, the challenges overcome during delivery, and the measurable impact produced across the organisation over the preceding 18 months.

For more information on finalists, past winners, and judging insights, visit the official Digital Transformation & AI Awards website.