A Manly entrepreneur is earning national recognition for transforming how small businesses manage their workforce, after being named a finalist in the EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards.
Local Innovation Making Global Impact
Ben Thompson, CEO and co-founder of Employment Hero, has built one of the country’s fastest-growing tech companies from Sydney’s Northern Beaches. His company, which began in 2014, now supports more than 300,000 businesses and millions of employees across Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Canada.
Under Thompson’s leadership, Employment Hero has grown into a global player in the HR technology space. The company’s platform helps small and medium-sized businesses manage everything from recruitment to payroll, compliance and employee engagement — streamlining tasks that can otherwise take up hours of a business owner’s time.
While the company’s reach is global, its roots remain firmly in Manly, where Thompson lives and leads a growing team that continues to shape the future of work. His early career as an employment lawyer helped him see firsthand how much time small businesses lose managing paperwork and processes. That experience shaped his drive to make employment simpler and more valuable for both employers and jobseekers.
A Milestone Year for Australian Entrepreneurs
Thompson’s recognition comes during the 25th year of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards in Australia. The program celebrates entrepreneurs whose ideas are not only commercially successful but also contribute to broader social and economic progress.
Finalists are evaluated by an independent panel of judges on key qualities including growth, purpose, and impact. The national winners will be announced at a gala event in Sydney on 15 October 2025.
The awards program is run in more than 60 countries and includes a global stage where national winners compete for the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year title. Past participants have credited the program with opening new doors for their businesses and connecting them with like-minded founders around the world.
Tech for Small Business, Built on the Beaches
Employment Hero’s latest innovation is a two-way talent marketplace that aims to make it easier for people to find jobs and for employers to hire the right talent faster. The system is built into their platform and is designed to help businesses fill roles more efficiently, especially during times of economic uncertainty or skills shortages.
Thompson believes that giving small business owners access to digital tools previously available only to large corporations can help level the playing field. His team’s work has become especially valuable as businesses across Australia adapt to hybrid work, staff shortages, and rising admin demands.
While Employment Hero continues to expand overseas, Thompson said the company remains focused on serving Australian businesses and jobseekers — and proud to be doing it from Manly.
Published 14-July-2025
