MHR takes home ‘Large Business’ award at local East Midlands Business Awards

MHR, the specialist provider of HR, payroll, and finance software, has been awarded the Large Business award at the East Midlands Business of the Year awards. The recognition is for MHR’s significant local investment in skills, workplace wellbeing initiatives, and long-standing commitment to creating an environment where employees flourish, evidenced by the fact that over 20% of its workforce has been with the company for more than 10 years.

MHR is a privately owned and family-owned business. Headquartered in Nottingham, it currently employs more than 900 staff, the large percentage of whom live locally which showcases MHR’s commitment to recruiting and retaining local talent. MHR has won as Large Business due to its dedication to nurturing talent and continuous employee growth. Specific examples of this include:

• MHR Academy: The Academy is now in its fourth year and is considered a strategic driver for MHR’s future planning and talent management. It provides comprehensive development pathways aimed at enhancing individual careers and the long-term growth of the business through skills and innovation. The Academy is embedded across four core business areas – software, managed services, sales, and professional services – and offers tailored training to foster a culture of professional excellence.
• Apprenticeships and graduate programmes: Since 2021, MHR has welcomed 29 apprentices into its Software Academy which has proved to be a successful route into expanding its team of software engineers. Additionally, MHR runs a successful Management Graduate Programme, a two-year rotational scheme pairing participants with senior leader mentors for guidance and support.
• Comprehensive training: Employees have access to on-demand learning focusing on skills including how to communicate and manage time more effectively, along with a focus on how to use AI efficiently and ethically in the workplace. MHR is also focused on providing external training to support the employee experience, working with organisations such the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals to help employees realise their potential.

Anton Roe, CEO of MHR, who himself joined the company over 30 years ago on a Youth Training Scheme, said, “Winning the Large Business award is an immense honour and a powerful validation of our ongoing commitment to our local area and workforce. At MHR, our roots as a family business means we fully understand the value of our people, and we strive to create an environment where every individual wants to flourish.”

The Large Business award builds on MHR’s existing recognition, which includes being listed as one of the Sunday Times Best Places to Work in 2024. With ambitious growth plans underway, including the recent opening of an office to be used as a ‘software hub’ in Newcastle, ongoing construction of new office space at the Nottingham HQ to accommodate projected growth, and plans to expand into the US market, MHR is set to continue its trajectory as a sector leader and exemplary employer.

Roe adds, “Our significant investments in our people, from the MHR Academy to enhanced benefits like maternity and paternity payments, ensure that we are not just retaining talent but actively developing the next generation of leaders. This award belongs to every one of our people, whose hard work and long service define the success and longevity of MHR, and are allowing us to continue giving back to our community.”

The East Midlands Business of the Year awards, led by TheBusinessDesk.com, were held last night at Crowne Plaza in Nottingham, with business professionals coming together to celebrate the very best successes from across the region. The shortlisted and winning companies are those that are innovating, disrupting and thriving, and want to showcase their achievements.