A Milton Keynes technology firm has secured a double shortlist at the British HR Awards after a year marked by international delivery, business growth and a strategic acquisition.
Tugela People, which develops HR and payroll systems for organisations worldwide, is a finalist in both the Technology Partner of the Year and Technology Organisation of the Year categories. The recognition places the business among a small group of UK firms shaping how companies manage and support their workforce.
The shortlist for Technology Partner of the Year follows a major project with a global engineering consultancy operating across 63 countries. Tugela People replaced manual HR and payroll processes with an integrated system, cutting payroll processing time by 40 per cent and improving payslip accuracy to 99 per cent. Employees also gained more secure and accessible tools, reducing administrative friction across the organisation.
The Milton Keynes firm has delivered a series of similar projects over the past year, contributing to rising demand for integrated HR and payroll systems. It has expanded its client base, strengthened sector partnerships and maintained high client satisfaction scores as it scales.
However, the second award nomination reflects the company’s internal performance during a period of disruption. In 2025, Tugela People operated for six months without its founder due to illness. During that time, staff assumed shared leadership responsibilities while introducing new initiatives focused on collaboration and development.
These included structured knowledge-sharing sessions, a peer recognition scheme and dedicated time for training. The approach helped maintain delivery standards and staff engagement during a period that could have destabilised the business.
Despite the disruption, Tugela People delivered projects for 16 clients and increased turnover to £2 million. In December, the business was acquired by Impact HR, a move expected to accelerate its growth and broaden its capabilities in HR and payroll technology.
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.”
The double nomination underlines both the company’s commercial momentum and its operational resilience, while reinforcing Milton Keynes’ position as a centre for high-growth technology businesses.
