A Milton Keynes-based HR technology firm has been named a finalist in two categories at the prestigious British HR Awards 2026.
Tugela People, which supports organisations around the world with HR and payroll technology, has been shortlisted for both the Technology Partner of the Year and Technology Organisation of the Year categories.
The British HR Awards, now in their fifth year, recognise businesses that are improving the way organisations support and engage their employees, with a particular focus on innovation and real-world impact.
Tugela People earned its place as a finalist in the Technology Partner category following its work with a global engineering consultancy operating in 63 countries. The company worked with the organisation to integrate its HR and payroll systems, replacing manual processes that were causing delays and errors. The new system reduced payroll processing time by 40 per cent and improved payslip accuracy to 99 per cent, while also giving employees easier and more secure access to their information.
The project is one of a number delivered by the team over the past year, with the business achieving a strong client satisfaction score and continuing to grow its partnerships across the HR technology sector.
Tugela People has also been recognised for how it has navigated a challenging period internally, earning its second shortlist in the Technology Organisation of the Year category.
In 2025, the company faced a six-month period without its founder due to illness. During that time, employees stepped up to share leadership responsibilities and ensure the business continued to operate successfully. The team introduced new initiatives to support collaboration, wellbeing and development, including regular knowledge-sharing sessions, a peer recognition scheme and dedicated learning time for staff.
Despite the challenges, the company maintained strong performance, delivering projects for 16 clients, increasing turnover to £2 million and completing an acquisition by Impact HR in December, which will support its future growth.
Greg Guilford, CEO at Tugela People, said: “We’re delighted to be finalists in two categories at the British HR Awards 2026. At Tugela People, our mission is simple: to help organisations get more value from their HR technology. Whether that’s HRIS implementation, payroll transformation or unlocking better people data, our focus is always on making HR systems work harder for the organisations that rely on them.
“To be finalists in these two categories recognises the wonderful work being done by our brilliant team and the clients who trust us with their HR technology journeys. Whatever the outcome, being recognised in two national categories is something we’re incredibly proud of.”
For more information, visit the Tugela People website.
