Feb 2021 Partners

Category: Partners

In February 2021, HRD Collective welcomed a new cohort of partners committed to reshaping the employee experience, leadership development, and organizational agility. As the world of work continued to navigate pandemic-era disruption, these partnerships offered enterprises the tools and frameworks to not only adapt but thrive. From cloud-based HR platforms to recognition solutions and family-support services, each partner brings a distinct focus that aligns with the pressing needs of modern workforces.

Workshop Themes: The New Employee Experience and Beyond

The 2021 partner program is anchored by a suite of workshops designed to address eight critical areas of human capital strategy. These sessions are curated to help HR leaders move from reactive problem-solving to proactive, long-term planning.

“The best HR partnerships don’t just solve immediate problems—they anticipate tomorrow’s challenges and equip organizations with the capability to meet them head-on.”

Glob: Three Pillars of Transformation

This year’s partners represent a cross-section of expertise that spans technology, culture, and work-life integration. Each has been selected for their proven ability to deliver measurable impact at scale.

Access People: Powering Productivity Through Cloud Innovation

The Access Group, recognized in The Sunday Times Tech Track 100 in 2019, serves more than 35,000 customers across commercial and not-for-profit sectors. Its Access Workspace cloud platform is transforming how organizations manage HR, payroll, and finance by providing an integrated, mobile-first workspace. With a valuation exceeding £1 billion and a workforce of over 2,900 employees, Access has deep expertise in helping mid-sized UK businesses become more efficient. The company’s focus on operational simplicity frees HR teams to concentrate on strategic initiatives, such as the workshops listed above. Access’s tools enable seamless data flow between departments, which is critical for agile workforce planning and digital transformation.

Achievers: Accelerating a Culture of Performance

Achievers is a leader in employee voice and recognition solutions, grounded in the science of behavior change. Their platform helps organizations bring values and strategy to life by activating employee participation. By integrating real-time insights, Achievers delivers just-in-time nudges that reinforce desired behaviors across the organization. Their customer success team provides guidance every step of the way, ensuring that recognition programs are not just adopted but become embedded in the company culture. For HR leaders focused on engagement, retention, and performance, Achievers offers a data-driven approach that connects individual contributions to business outcomes. In the context of the 2021 workshops, Achievers’ expertise directly supports sessions on culture, leadership, and continuous learning.

Bright Horizons: Supporting Work+Family Holistically

Bright Horizons has long been synonymous with best-in-class childcare, but its mission extends far beyond that. Today, the organization helps employers support working parents and carers through a comprehensive suite of work+family solutions. With approximately 1,100 nurseries and over 10,000 emergency and backup care providers globally, Bright Horizons works with more than 1,150 of the world’s leading companies. Their services ensure that employees can blend work and family responsibilities without sacrificing productivity or well-being. For HR leaders, partnering with Bright Horizons means addressing a key driver of employee stress and turnover. This aligns with the workshop theme of embedding wellbeing into business strategy for sustainable impact.

Why These Partnerships Matter in 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated many HR trends that were already in motion: remote work, digital transformation, and a heightened focus on employee well-being. The 2021 partner cohort is uniquely positioned to help organizations navigate this new terrain. Access People provides the technological backbone for digital transformation; Achievers offers the cultural infrastructure for engagement and recognition; and Bright Horizons ensures that employees’ personal lives are supported. Together, these partners address the full spectrum of the employee experience—from the tools they use to the values they live to the care they receive.

HRD Collective’s previous partners, listed on the 2020 Partners page, laid the groundwork for these conversations. For organizations looking back at earlier collaborations, the Europe Previous Partners and NA Previous Partners pages offer additional context. Looking ahead, the Oct 2021 Partners page will continue this tradition of curating best-in-class partnerships.

Preparing for the Future of Work

As organizations strive to rebuild and reimagine, the role of strategic partners becomes increasingly important. The workshops and partnerships announced in February 2021 are not just about surviving the present—they are about building the capabilities needed for long-term success. HR leaders who engage with these resources will be better equipped to design leadership requirements, foster continuous learning, and embed agility into their strategic planning.

In the months ahead, HRD Collective will continue to share insights from these partners through case studies, webinars, and collaborative events. The goal is to create a community of practices where HR professionals can learn from each other and from industry leaders. By leveraging the expertise of Access People, Achievers, and Bright Horizons, organizations can turn the challenges of 2021 into opportunities for meaningful transformation.