Intersport Elverys secured two titles at the HR Leadership & Management Awards 2026, claiming Overall Excellence in HR and Best Workplace DEI Impact Award. The honours were presented at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry, on 15 October 2026, placing the sports retailer among Ireland’s benchmark HR organisations.

The Overall Excellence in HR award recognises comprehensive leadership of people, culture, and organisational development. Judges noted an approach that positions employee engagement, professional development, and wellbeing as central to its people strategy, aligned with wider business objectives. Through inclusive leadership and continuous improvement, the organisation has created an environment where employees are supported to perform at their best.

Judges also praised the organisation’s Best Workplace DEI Impact Award entry.

“This entrant has built a comprehensive DE&I strategy that creates meaningful impact across its people, policies and wider communities. The organisation’s commitment is reflected through initiatives supporting health, representation, career opportunities and external partnerships, backed by clear leadership involvement. The breadth of its approach, honest recognition of challenges and focus on continuous improvement highlight a genuine commitment to building a more inclusive workplace,” the panel said.

The DEI recognition sits alongside the overall honour as evidence that the organisation’s people agenda reaches beyond headline policy. Judges looked for practical reach, from health and wellbeing support to representation in hiring and progression, and for leaders who take visible ownership of the work. Their comments also valued candour about what remains unfinished, a trait that often separates credible programmes from aspirational ones.

These two wins show how leadership, culture, and inclusion can operate as one connected people strategy. For HR leaders in retail, hospitality, and other high-volume sectors, the result is a reminder that scale does not need to dilute people practice. Store teams and head office can share the same standards when leadership sets clear expectations and measures outcomes consistently. Across the sector, the awards increasingly assess whether engagement and inclusion initiatives deliver visible outcomes rather than policy commitments alone. For organisations preparing 2027 entries, Intersport Elverys offers a clear example of that integrated approach.

Visit the official HR Leadership & Management Awards website to explore winners and finalists by category, and subscribe to the newsletter for coverage of Ireland’s leading HR initiatives.