Altum HR apprentice Christopher Brennan has been highly commended in the Michael Kelly Outstanding Student category at the 2026 CIPD People Management Awards.
The recognition highlights the contribution an early-career HR professional can make when structured study is combined with practical responsibility and support from experienced colleagues.
Putting professional learning into practice
The category recognises applicants who have used their CIPD studies to deliver meaningful, measurable improvements in their organisation. The assessment considers individual contribution and the initiation, implementation and evaluation of an HR improvement project.
Altum HR said Brennan stood out for his people skills when he joined and was supported to study a CIPD Level 5 qualification alongside his work. Brennan credited the opportunities and mentoring he had received at the business.
It’s a fantastic achievement for Chris and really well deserved.
Tara Philips, Christopher Brennan’s manager at Altum HR
Philips said he had put considerable effort into his development and had been an asset from his first day.
Why it matters
For employers developing HR talent, the example underlines the value of combining a qualification with mentoring and opportunities to apply learning to real workplace problems.
Photograph supplied with the Altum HR announcement.
