Embedding Business Psychology Where It Matters
What we learn from this year's ABP Awards finalists in the "Best In-house Business Psychology Team or Practitioner of The Year" category
The ABP Awards Judges have selected the finalists for this year’s Awards and included amongst them are excellent in-house Business Psychology teams. What can we learn from them?
The in-house teams shortlisted this year demonstrate that business psychology is thriving not only in consultancies and universities, but within organisations themselves, embedded at the heart of strategy, culture, and change. Their work shows that when psychological insight becomes part of an organisation’s everyday decision-making, it transforms not only outcomes but the way people experience work.
These teams illustrate the growing maturity of in-house business psychology practice. They are not simply service functions or HR support; they are strategic partners influencing leadership behaviour, shaping culture, and ensuring that business decisions are grounded in evidence and ethics. Whether they sit in government departments, global corporations, or public services, they are united by a shared commitment to applying psychology responsibly and with measurable impact.
What stands out most from this year’s entries is the diversity of purpose and practice. Some teams focus on assessment and selection for example, developing competency frameworks, psychometric innovations, and fair recruitment models that bring rigour to talent decisions. Others are leading on wellbeing, engagement, and inclusion, using psychological science to design systems that foster trust, belonging, and motivation. Several are driving cultural transformation, using diagnostics, behavioural insights, and co-creation to help their organisations adapt to change.
Despite this variety, the hallmarks of excellence remain consistent. The strongest teams show:
- Evidence-based practice: using validated frameworks and data to inform decisions, evaluate interventions, and demonstrate outcomes.
- Ethical integrity: safeguarding fairness, transparency, and confidentiality in every aspect of their work.
- Collaborative influence: working across functions and hierarchies to embed psychological thinking into policies, leadership, and everyday practice.
- Reflective learning: evaluating their own impact and sharing lessons to build organisational capability.
Several entries stood out for their commitment to accessibility and inclusion. Their work ensures that psychology is not the preserve of specialists but a shared organisational language. Through workshops, learning communities, and practical tools, they have enabled leaders and employees alike to understand and apply psychological insight, thereby improving conversations, relationships, and decisions.
Some have also demonstrated innovation under pressure, integrating behavioural science into digital transformation, hybrid working, and change management. They are helping their organisations to navigate complexity with clarity, so demonstrating that psychology is not a luxury in uncertain times, but a necessity.
The diversity of these entries reinforces an important truth: there is no single model for an outstanding in-house psychology team. Some are large and formally structured; others are small, agile, and embedded within specific functions. What unites them is their influence; they have the ability to bring scientific thinking to real organisational challenges, and to do so with empathy, partnership, and purpose.
The best in-house teams are champions of sustainable change. They don’t just deliver projects; they build capability, shape culture, and elevate understanding.
Their work embodies the ABP’s mission to improve working lives through psychology, proving that when business psychology is lived, not just learned, its impact is profound and lasting.
Congratulations to all this year's finalists!
