Recruitment Business receives Best Managed Company Award for the fifth year in a row.
26 September 2025: MPA Recruitment has been named one of Ireland’s Best Managed Companies at the Deloitte Awards Ceremony in Dublin. The company has now received this prestigious accolade for the fifth year in a row, most recently achieving Gold status.
About MPA Recruitment
Since 1997, MPA Recruitment has been serving Northern Irish communities, providing flexible work solutions for both employees and employers. Driven by the values of Integrity, Collaboration, Transparency, Commitment, and Entrepreneurship, MPA has become an award-winning recruitment powerhouse. By creating a rewarding workplace for its 48 internal staff members, MPA has earned accolades such as Investors in People: Gold and continues to be recognised among the region’s leading employers, with further honours anticipated in the year ahead.
Nicky McConville, Managing Director of MPA, said
“At MPA, our people are at the heart of everything we do, both our clients and candidates, and of course our own team. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work, passion, and commitment of our staff. We are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together, and we remain focused on growing sustainably while continuing to create opportunities that make a real difference in our communities.”
MPA began with a single office in Derry/Londonderry and has now grown to seven offices across Northern Ireland. In 2024, the company facilitated over 1,000,000 work hours for more than 600 Northern Ireland-based businesses, hiring over 2,000 people for temporary and permanent roles and providing on-site healthcare training where required.
Keely Phillips, Regional Director, said:
“Our team loves serving the local community, whether by helping someone find a role that supports work–life balance or by providing businesses with extra staff during peak periods.”
For more information on MPA visit their website: www.mparecruitment.co.uk
Award Recognition
The Deloitte network of companies recognised at the Best Managed Companies programme has a combined turnover of more than €22 billion and provides employment to over 62,000 people across a range of sectors, including technology, healthcare, and construction.
A thorough judging process precedes the recognition each year, evaluating the entire management team and business strategy. The judges assess a wide range of areas, including:
Strategic planning
Governance standards
Financial performance
Organisational culture
Talent strategy
Year-on-year innovation
Aislean Nicholson, Partner at Deloitte in Belfast, said:
“Congratulations to all the winning companies on their achievement. The Best Managed Companies programme offers a valuable platform for indigenous businesses across the island of Ireland. It’s encouraging to see new companies based in Northern Ireland being recognised for their innovation, resilience, and commitment to excellence, alongside several long-standing participants who have achieved Gold and Platinum status for consistently meeting the programme’s high standards over the years.”
Glenn Shanley, Head of AIB Corporate Banking, said:
“Ireland’s Best Managed Companies is a showcase of what we see daily in AIB – the incredible strength, ambition and resilience of our indigenous companies. The process is a celebration of strong management teams and the energy they bring to the business world. We can see many shared traits in the 2025 winners – for instance, a willingness to face challenges head-on and turn them into opportunities, embedding sustainability as a priority, and creating a culture in which people are comfortable with sharing opinions and challenging each other. Congratulations to all winners, I wish them every success in the coming year.”
A total of 107 companies requalified as a Best Managed Company in 2025. Eight of these achieved Gold Standard (four years as a BMC), and six achieved Platinum Standard (seven years as a BMC). JJ Rhatigan was awarded the Family Business Award.
The Best Managed Companies programme is currently run in over 45 countries, including China, the United States, Southeast Asia, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Czech Republic, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Türkiye, Mexico, Chile, and launched this year in the UK.
Judging Panel 2025
Frank Ryan, former Chairman of the Board of IDA Ireland and Chair of BMC judging panel
Glenn Shanley, Head of AIB Corporate Banking
Ellvena Graham OBE, Non-Executive Director & Chair of Tourism Northern Ireland
Feargal Mooney, Non-Executive Director and former CEO of Hostelworld
Lionel Alexander, Chair Intact Software and Non-Executive Director
Orla O’Gorman, Non-Executive Director and former Head of Listing at Euronext
Professor Anthony Brabazon, Dean of UCD Michael Smurfit Business School
Sarah Murphy, CEO of Business Post