A Devon-based human resources company are ‘excited’ to be sponsoring an Exmouth business award this year.

The HR Dept, which covers the Exeter and East Devon area, are sponsoring the award for the employer of the year.

Last year’s awards ceremony was cancelled due to the onset of the first coronavirus lockdown and Belind Newton, of the HR Dept, said they had their ‘frocks ready’ for last year’s awards but couldn’t wear them.

She added that sponsoring the award which recognises employers seems ‘apt’ as they provide HR support.

Belinda said: “We want to help showcase some of the great employers that Devon has to offer.

“We have been a member of Exmouth Chamber since The HR Dept Exeter started in 2010 so it is an honour to be able to give something back to the Chamber for all the support it has given to us.

“We hope this award gives recognition to everyone in the category that they are a good employer, particularly after everything employers have been through this year.

“Caring and nurturing your employees can take a lot of time and patience, but inspiring people creates a great team which in turn creates a great business.”

A week before the lockdown began in March last year, HR Dept moved to homeworking which Belinda said mitigated the upheaval which the restriction brought.

She added: “At the time we thought, as did many, that the business might not survive but we were probably the busiest we have ever been as we navigated the ever-changing employment and furlough updates on behalf of nearly all our clients.

“Our phone was ringing nonstop with different scenarios around homeworking and furlough, however we still managed to update everyone with regular update emails as the live changes happened.

“We managed a few months back in the office before a second stint of homeworking, by which point the team had grown a little and everyone was a little more in tune to the homeworking and furlough process.”

Applications for this year’s awards have opened and people have until May 14 to apply in 10 categories, including employer of the year and best small business, which is being sponsored by Thompson Jenner this year.

For more information on the awards, visit https://www.exmouthchamber.co.uk/businessawards2021/