Kilkenny company named Employer of the Year at HR Leadership & Management Awards

Kilkenny-headquartered software technology group, CluneTech, has been named Employer of the Year at the 2026 HR Leadership & Management Awards.

CluneTech was also recognised with the Excellence in Workplace Culture Award, securing two major honours for the company on the night.

The HR Leadership & Management Awards celebrate excellence across the HR profession in Ireland, recognising organisations and teams that are leading the way in shaping exceptional workplaces, strengthening employee experience and driving positive change across their businesses.

Together, the two awards recognise an employee experience that has continued to evolve in response to what people need from their workplace.

Over the years, CluneTech has introduced a range of benefits designed to support employees in ways that reflect their lives both inside and outside of work. These include Lifework Days, flexible and hybrid working, Meeting Free Fridays and paid Volunteer Days.

The company has also introduced initiatives such as the EmpowerHer Programme, as well as enhanced leave policies covering compassionate leave, pregnancy loss, fertility treatment and, more recently, pet bereavement leave.

These initiatives, alongside an ongoing focus on listening to employee feedback and adapting the way people work, have become an important part of life at CluneTech. They reflect the company’s #OneTeam ethos and its commitment to creating a workplace that supports people through different stages of their careers and lives.

“We are incredibly proud to be recognised as Employer of the Year and to receive the Excellence in Workplace Culture Award at this year’s HR Leadership & Management Awards. This is a real source of pride for us and reflects the strength of the culture we have created here at CluneTech,” said Terry Clune, CluneTech CEO and Founder.

“What makes this recognition particularly special is that our culture is built by our people. It is reflected in how our teams collaborate, support one another and bring our values to life across the business. I’d like to thank everyone across our #OneTeam for the part they play in making CluneTech such a great place to work.”

Adding to this, Michelle Gaffney, Head of Group HR, said: “To see CluneTech recognised in both of these categories is incredibly rewarding. These awards reflect the care and focus we continue to place on the employee experience, from listening to our people and responding to their needs, to creating opportunities for them to grow, develop and build meaningful careers with us. I’m very proud of the work of our HR and leadership teams, whose commitment continues to shape that experience and ensure we keep evolving as an employer. It is wonderful to see that work acknowledged through these awards.”