XISHUANGBANNA, China, Dec. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As global competition for talent intensifies, organisations are increasingly elevating employer branding from a recruitment-focused activity to a core strategic capability. Authentic storytelling, employee-experience design and trust-building have become defining components of modern organisational competitiveness.
The 2025 Employer Branding Creativity Awards concluded successfully in Xishuangbanna on December 1. Hosted by the Employer Branding Institute, and supported by BusinessWeek/Chinese Edition, Xiaoguo and Lockin China, the Awards received 1,831 submissions from 534 organisations across the technology, finance, consumer goods, manufacturing, healthcare and service sectors. Participating organisations included Mercedes-Benz, AstraZeneca China, Bosch China, L'Oréal China, Marriott International and H&M, among others.
The international jury panel comprised leading employer-branding experts including Richard Mosley, Ali Ayaz and Barbara Zych, alongside cross-disciplinary leaders from marketing, public welfare and business media. Using the Institute's "4+1" evaluation framework — Content Operation, Creative Design, Communication Strategy, User Experience plus an additional targeted criterion — the panel selected 160 outstanding entries representing 74 organisations.
Ms Ocean Fu, Founder of the Employer Branding Institute, said: "Over the past nine years, we have seen employer branding shift from storytelling to trust-building. In a workplace reshaped by AI, efficiency accelerates, yet understanding between people and organisations takes more time. Algorithms may optimise processes, but they cannot build trust. True employer branding helps employees understand and navigate change, rather than simply polishing it." She continued: "As AI restructures workflows, the value of employer branding lies in helping each employee find their place. Real brand vitality does not come from packaging, but from understanding people. We hope more organisations will move beyond efficiency-driven practices to cultivate ecosystems of trust — where employees of diverse generations and backgrounds feel genuinely seen and supported."
This year's entries highlighted several notable shifts: a growing emphasis on employee-experience design; increasing adoption of AI-enabled communication; organisational culture becoming central to employer-brand storytelling; and rising cross-department collaboration in content creation.
The newly introduced Achievement Award recognised excellence in organisational talent strategy. Honourees included teams from Lianjia, BEIJING FANUC, Bosch China, Greentown China Holdings Limited, Marriott International and Mercedes-Benz.
The organisers announced plans to expand international participation and strengthen global exchange mechanisms for the 2026 edition. Registration for the 2026 Awards will open in May 2026.
About Employer Branding Institute
The Employer Branding Institute (EBI) is a leading research institution dedicated to employer-brand strategy, research and innovation. EBI brings together global authorities including Simon Barrow, originator of the employer-brand concept, and Richard Mosley, widely regarded as the "Father of Employer Branding". The Institute serves more than 2,000 clients worldwide, including over 300 Fortune Global 500 companies.
EBI is co-branded by HRflag and Wild Theory, reinforcing its leadership in advancing employer branding and belonging practices globally.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Global Shift Toward Trust: 2025 Employer Branding Creativity Awards Highlight New Talent Trends
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The Budget Direct Footy Charity Championship celebrates Team Rivalries and Footy Fan fervour, to deliver positive community impact and big wins for some lucky rugby league fans!
BRISBANE, Australia, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Leveraging its proud sponsorship of three major rugby league teams, including The Dolphins, Melbourne Storm, and the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Budget Direct has created a unique competition based on the head-to-head clashes between these teams throughout the regular season. This championship will see the teams battle it out, not just for points, but to win significant donations from Budget Direct to the charities nominated by the teams.
The initiative will see Budget Direct inject a total of $205,000 into vital community charities, while also giving three lucky footy fans the chance to win big for themselves and a cause close to their hearts.
The Team Competition: Playing for their Causes
Throughout the season, every clash between the Dolphins, Storm, and Rabbitohs will directly translate into tangible support for community organisations. At the end of the regular season, Budget Direct will award major donations to the clubs' nominated charities based on the final standings:
- 1st Place: $100,000 donation.
- 2nd Place: $50,000 donation.
- 3rd Place: $25,000 donation.
The clubs have selected to play for the following deserving community organisations:
The Fan Competition: Win $10K Cash and Give $10K to Charity
Beyond the action on the field, the Budget Direct Footy Charity Championship ensures that fans are also part of the victory and community impact. Supporters can join the excitement by signing up on the official Budget Direct competition webpage and aligning with a team playing in the championship.
At the end of the championship, three lucky fans, one aligned with each team, will be randomly drawn to win a fantastic win-win prize package:
- $10,000 in cash for the fan to keep.
- $10,000 donated by Budget Direct to the winner's nominated registered charity.
A True Win-Win for the Community
Jonathan Kerr, Chief Growth Officer, Budget Direct, highlights the spirit of the initiative. "We wanted to create a unique competition that celebrates the passion of footy fans while making a real difference in the community," said Kerr.
"By the end of this championship, Budget Direct will have donated $205,000 to incredible charities and given away $30,000 in cash to fans. It's a true win-win that turns every tackle and try into something much bigger than the game itself," added Kerr.
How to enter
Fans can follow the competition and enter to win at: www.budgetdirect.com.au/footy
Competition Terms & Conditions
The terms and conditions of the consumer competition can be found here: www.budgetdirect.com.au/terms-conditions/footy-charity-championship.html
The Budget Direct Footy Charity Championship celebrates Team Rivalries and Footy Fan fervour, to deliver positive community impact and big wins for some lucky rugby league fans!
BRISBANE, Australia, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Leveraging its proud sponsorship of three major rugby league teams, including The Dolphins, Melbourne Storm, and the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Budget Direct has created a unique competition based on the head-to-head clashes between these teams throughout the regular season. This championship will see the teams battle it out, not just for points, but to win significant donations from Budget Direct to the charities nominated by the teams.
The initiative will see Budget Direct inject a total of $205,000 into vital community charities, while also giving three lucky footy fans the chance to win big for themselves and a cause close to their hearts.
The Team Competition: Playing for their Causes
Throughout the season, every clash between the Dolphins, Storm, and Rabbitohs will directly translate into tangible support for community organisations. At the end of the regular season, Budget Direct will award major donations to the clubs' nominated charities based on the final standings:
- 1st Place: $100,000 donation.
- 2nd Place: $50,000 donation.
- 3rd Place: $25,000 donation.
The clubs have selected to play for the following deserving community organisations:
The Fan Competition: Win $10K Cash and Give $10K to Charity
Beyond the action on the field, the Budget Direct Footy Charity Championship ensures that fans are also part of the victory and community impact. Supporters can join the excitement by signing up on the official Budget Direct competition webpage and aligning with a team playing in the championship.
At the end of the championship, three lucky fans, one aligned with each team, will be randomly drawn to win a fantastic win-win prize package:
- $10,000 in cash for the fan to keep.
- $10,000 donated by Budget Direct to the winner's nominated registered charity.
A True Win-Win for the Community
Jonathan Kerr, Chief Growth Officer, Budget Direct, highlights the spirit of the initiative. "We wanted to create a unique competition that celebrates the passion of footy fans while making a real difference in the community," said Kerr.
"By the end of this championship, Budget Direct will have donated $205,000 to incredible charities and given away $30,000 in cash to fans. It's a true win-win that turns every tackle and try into something much bigger than the game itself," added Kerr.
How to enter
Fans can follow the competition and enter to win at: www.budgetdirect.com.au/footy
Competition Terms & Conditions
The terms and conditions of the consumer competition can be found here: www.budgetdirect.com.au/terms-conditions/footy-charity-championship.html
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
Budget Direct Footy Charity Championship - Launched With Big Wins for Charities and Major Cash Prizes for Footy Fans!
