“Transformative impact” of Employment Hero recognised in the 25th Year of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Awards

26 May 2025 – Sydney, Australia: Since its inception, Employment Hero has been on a mission to make employment easier and more valuable for everyone, driven by CEO and Co-Founder, Ben Thompson. Thompson has led the charge in creating a world-first Employment Operating System, that most recently includes a first-of-its-kind two-way talent marketplace, which fundamentally changes the way people hire and find jobs. 

Thompson’s entrepreneurship, has now been recognised in the milestone 25th Year of EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, which not only “highlights the success of individual entrepreneurs, but more importantly, it also underscores the criticality of entrepreneurship in driving economic and social prosperity” – Selina Short, EY. 

“It’s an honour to be recognised as a finalist in these awards, which reflects the passion and hard work of the ever-growing Employment Hero team, who each and every day serve businesses and job seekers to help them do what they do best. Small business is the backbone of the economy and I’m so proud of how we have grown Employment Hero to not only make employment easier for business-owners, but now also millions of job-seekers. 

“Employment Hero has a valuable role to play in supporting business growth, job creation and economic prosperity and so it’s fantastic to have our business and mission highlighted as part of these awards, amongst an inspiring group of entrepreneurs”, said Thompson. 

Beginning his career as an employment lawyer, Thompson saw first-hand the complexities and challenges faced by businesses, particularly SMEs, whereby more time was spent managing employment than doing what they love. With a passion for innovation and a vision to make employment easier and more valuable for everyone, Thompson began his journey to build businesses that would do just that. 

The launch of Employment Hero in 2014 saw Thompson lead the charge in digitising employment systems. Under his leadership, Employment Hero has rapidly evolved from a bold startup into a global force in the HR tech sector, serving over 300,000 businesses and millions of employees across Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Canada. His vision to empower SMEs with tools previously reserved for large corporations has redefined how small businesses manage their workforce, streamline compliance and enhance employee engagement. His commitment to improving global employment standards has been particularly vital during times of economic uncertainty, enabling businesses to adapt and thrive through digital transformation.

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ program is one of the most prestigious business award programs globally, recognising the ambition, innovation and leadership of entrepreneurs. Being selected as a finalist is a testament to Ben’s unwavering dedication to transforming the employment landscape for SMEs in Australia and beyond.

The national finalists will be evaluated by an independent panel of judges, who will score the finalists based on a set of criteria that includes entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth, and impact. The winners will be announced at a gala event in Sydney on 15 October 2025.