Palladium has been named the first ever winner of the Institute of Employability Professionals’ (IEP) Platinum Award, announced at the IEP Summit on 11 June.

The IEP is the UK’s professional body for the employability sector, setting standards, accrediting training and promoting evidence led practice across organisations that support people into work. Its inaugural Platinum Award represents the highest level of recognition – reserved for organisations that not only meet but consistently demonstrate professional excellence, integrity and sustained impact.

Selected from IEP Gold Award holders, Palladium’s recognition reflects years of disciplined delivery combined with a deeply human approach to helping people overcome complex barriers to employment and wellbeing.

At the centre of that work is a simple principle: employability is not a transactional service, but a profession rooted in evidence, ethics and trust. Across programmes supporting people affected by long term unemployment, disability, trauma and forced migration, success is measured not only by job outcomes, but by stability, confidence and belonging.

“Our focus is always on the person and treating people as an individual,” says Becky Brocklehurst, Palladium’s Operations Director. “That means designing services that feel human, respectful and practical – and holding ourselves to professional standards that protect the individual as well as outcomes.”

Embedded in every programme trauma informed practices, grounded in principles of safety, trust, choice, collaboration and empowerment. Frontline practitioners take time to understand each participant’s background and aspirations before shaping personalised support, creating the conditions for meaningful, lasting change.

“Trust is earned every day within teams,” says Sinéad Magill, Palladium’s Chief Executive Officer. “Professional excellence isn’t abstract for us – it shows up in patience, care and clear boundaries, in informed consent, and in the confidence people regain when they feel listened to and respected.”

Innovation has also played a defining role in Palladium’s Platinum recognition. The team continues to adapt evidence based models to new contexts, including piloting IPS (called IPS Empower) within payment by results environments – delivering improved job outcomes for people facing complex barriers. Employer led co design has further helped remove structural obstacles to work, influencing inclusive recruitment practices beyond individual pilots.

“Excellence becomes a habit when learning is built into everyday practice,” Magill says. “We test ideas, learn from data and lived experience, and protect the relational core of our services even as we scale.”

Palladium’s long standing engagement with the IEP has helped shape this professional culture. Accredited learning, shared standards and connection to the wider employability community have strengthened consistency, ethical practice and confidence across teams.

“IEP has helped us articulate what professional excellence really means in practice – and to hold ourselves accountable to it,” Brocklehurst says. “When practitioners feel equipped, supported and proud of their profession, the people they support feel the difference.”

The Platinum Award marks a significant milestone not only for Palladium, but for the employability sector more broadly. It signals a shared commitment to evidence led practice, integrity and long term social impact – recognising organisations that deliver results without losing sight of the people behind them.

“Professional excellence isn’t an aspiration for us,” says Magill, “it’s something we earn, every day, through consistent delivery and the lasting difference experienced by the people we serve.”