An award for SMEs who are using ground-breaking (or innovative) HR practice to support business growth is being sponsored by leading Cloud HR software provider Cezanne HR.

The ‘SME Initiative of the Year’ award is aimed at companies with between 50 and 250 employees who are transforming the way they deliver HR in order to build sustainable company performance. It is one of the categories in the 2013 CIPD People Management Awards, which recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements in people management and development. Cezanne HR Marketing Director Sue Lingard says: “We are delighted to be supporting an award that recognises HR best practice in SMEs. Small and mid-sized businesses contribute a huge amount to the UK economy and to local communities. They are responsible for some 50 per cent of GDP and employment and it is widely recognised that their successful growth is critical to re-balancing our economy.”

“It is also the case that SMEs are often the most willing to embrace entrepreneurial practices when it comes to people management – taking innovative approaches that larger organisations could learn from. These awards provide the perfect forum for giving SMEs the recognition they deserve,” she concludes.

Cezanne HR was set up in 2013 by the founders and former majority stakeholders of Cezanne Software, following the sale of the part of the Cezanne Software business focused on servicing larger enterprises. The new business is entirely focused on promoting a pure SaaS-based HR software solution, Cezanne HR, which was first released in the summer of 2011. The company already has an impressive customer base of small businesses and mid-sized enterprises, many of whom are well-known brands and innovators in their own markets. Customers that have signed up to use the online HR service from the UK in the last few months include Think Jam, Evolving, Intelliflo and Invitation Digital. The company also has offices and partners supporting customers in mainland Europe and elsewhere.

“Our focus on the SME market, both through direct sales and by partnering with HR service providers like Ward Williams and Abbey HR, means that it felt absolutely right to support these awards, Sue explains. “We’ve had first-hand experience of working with SMEs and the companies that support them, and we’re more than aware of the challenges they face.” The award for SME HR Initiative of the Year is now officially open for entry.

More information and entry forms can be found here http://www.cipdpmas.co.uk/