The TOP50HR National Independent Human Resources Management Award and Forum is a key event that showcases the contribution of HR management teams to business development, quality of life, and regional economies through real-life case studies. It also establishes a standard for effective management teams and scales up best people management practices. The Roscongress Foundation is providing strategic and organizational support for the award and forum, underscoring the initiative's federal scale and creating additional opportunities for interaction between business, government, and the expert community. The TOP50HR organizers are the Be Brand People communications agency and the Russian Convention Bureau (RCB).

"Human capital development is now a key prerequisite for sustainable economic growth and the country's technological sovereignty. Of particular importance is the ability of companies not only to attract professionals but also to create an environment for unlocking people's potential, building strong teams, and implementing new management solutions. It is crucial that successful practices, including those implemented in the regions and by young teams, become visible and have the potential to be scaled up. The TOP50HR award and forum provide a platform for such professional dialogue and exchange of experience between businesses, the expert community, and development institutions," said Anton Kobyakov, Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation.

Over 140 companies from across the country participated in the first awards ceremony, competing for the title of best in eight main categories and four special categories. This year, the event is gaining strategic significance for Russia, transforming from a best-practices competition into a practical tool for strengthening the development and sustainability of national business. For the business community, the award creates a new benchmark — the management team as a single organism. Svetlana Svetlichnaya, Chairperson of the Primary Trade Union Organization of PSB, Head of the Social Well-being Department at PSB Bank's HR Directorate, PhD in Pedagogy, speaks about the award's significance:

"TOP50HR" is an event that sets benchmarks for the entire industry. It brings together systemic solutions that have stood the test of time and experience. The award is valuable for its content: it allows us to see which approaches truly work and which remain mere theory. As a trade union leader, it is especially important to me that "TOP50HR" consistently expands its agenda—from dry KPIs to the quality of life of employees and their families. It is here that it is clearly visible: the real result is not produced by competition between the employer and the employee, but by social partnership. When the union and the company hear each other, everyone wins. This depth is what makes this event truly important in the professional calendar."

This year, the organizers decided to change the concept, adding a comprehensive business forum, new nominations, and tracks to the program, creating three categories of participants: "Business" — representatives of small, medium, and large businesses; "Territories" — representatives of local governments across the Russian Federation; and "New Shift" — for youth teams under 35.

There will be 10 main nominations, as well as 10 special nominations, including the "Achievement of the Year" Grand Prix. This approach maximizes participation opportunities for businesses, non-profits, and participants from the public sector, local governments, regional and municipal institutions, educational organizations, and youth teams.

Among the special nominations, "Potential" will be recognized for initiatives dedicated to supporting youth and people with disabilities. The nomination was established under the auspices of the Roscongress Foundation's "Country Potential" ecosystem, whose projects provide assistance at the start of a professional life: from mentoring and career guidance in middle and high school to first employment and career advancement. The ecosystem was created to unite employers, the government, educational, volunteer, and other organizations willing to help people from the most vulnerable groups and young professionals without work experience.

"This year, we're paying special attention to the regions and young management teams. It's crucial for us that strong HR solutions emerging today in various regions of the country are recognized at the federal level and replicated. TOP50HR should become one of the mechanisms for such selection and scaling—a platform where best practices from businesses and regions become part of the overall agenda for developing the country's human capital," said Sagid Zaremukov, Director of the Russian Convention Bureau.

The Expert Council and jury for the award included respected experts in the field of organizational and HR management, as well as representatives of professional and business communities and the media. According to Takhir Bazarov, Chairman of the TOP50HR Expert Council, Doctor of Psychology, and Distinguished Professor at Moscow University, 

"the idea that there's 'no staff' and 'no one to hire' is only heard in organizations that have failed to implement a sound human capital management process. Retaining someone is much more cost-effective than finding a new one, especially one with the right qualifications. Today, a third of layoffs are related to company culture and life balance, not salary. And when we talk about diversity in a team, we most often find that it's a result of self-organization and self-management. The "TOP50HR" award and forum aims to identify and promote precisely these successful team management practices."

Artem Drygant, founder of TOP50HR and CEO of Be Brand People, stated:

"The launch of the TOP50HR award sends a signal to the market: the contribution of HR specialists to company development must be recognized and appreciated. We want successful cases to inspire and be replicated, and for professionals to feel that their work is important and visible."

The TOP50HR award final and forum will be held in Moscow on December 9-10 at the Lomonosov cluster. Guests will be treated to in-person presentations of the year's best cases, an intensive business forum program featuring over 30 speakers, and a spectacular awards ceremony. Applications and case submissions can be submitted on the official TOP50HR website from August 12 to October 25.