ATHLETE POWERING POSITIVE CHANGE 

Recognising an outstanding athlete who has used their profile, influence and platform beyond the world of sport to drive meaningful social change. This award celebrates an individual who has championed important causes, challenged inequality, raised awareness and used their voice to support underrepresented or disadvantaged communities. Whether through campaigning, advocacy, charitable work or community engagement, the recipient will have demonstrated an authentic and sustained commitment to inspiring others, breaking down barriers and creating a positive and lasting impact on society.

GLOBAL DIVERSITY INITIATIVE

Recognising an outstanding diversity, equity and inclusion initiative delivered by an organisation with a global reach. This award celebrates an initiative that has successfully engaged people across multiple countries, regions or cultures and created a meaningful, measurable and positive impact for its worldwide workforce, communities, customers or business audiences during the past 12 months.

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OUTSTANDING

WOMEN'S NETWORK

Recognising an outstanding employee-led Women’s Network dedicated to advancing gender equity and representing, supporting and amplifying the voices of women in the workplace. This award celebrates a network that has addressed barriers to women’s progression, strengthened professional development, increased awareness of workplace inequalities and influenced meaningful organisational change during the past 12 months.

This category is open only to employee networks whose primary purpose is advancing gender equity and supporting women in the workplace.​

OUTSTANDING ABILITY NETWORK

Recognising an outstanding employee-led Ability Network dedicated specifically to representing and supporting disabled and neurodivergent colleagues and those with long-term health conditions.

This award celebrates a network that has amplified members’ voices, increased understanding, improved accessibility and influenced meaningful organisational change, helping to create a workplace in which people of all abilities feel valued, supported and empowered to thrive.

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OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEE NETWORK

Recognising an exceptional employee network that has made a meaningful contribution to creating a more inclusive, supportive and equitable workplace. This award celebrates a network that has amplified employees’ voices, built a strong sense of community, influenced organisational change and delivered measurable impact for its members and the wider workforce during the past 12 months.

This category is for networks that do not fall within the dedicated LGBTQIA+, Ability, Women’s or Ethnicity Network categories. Networks representing these communities must enter their relevant specific category.

CHANGEMAKER ​

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Recognising an outstanding individual who has championed diversity, equity and inclusion, challenged inequality and turned their commitment into meaningful action. This award celebrates someone whose campaigning, advocacy or leadership has broken down barriers, created positive change and inspired others to help build a fairer and more inclusive society.

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charity or not-for-profit

Recognising an outstanding charity or not-for-profit organisation that has made a significant contribution to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion. This award celebrates an organisation that has delivered meaningful initiatives, supported underrepresented communities, challenged inequality and created measurable, lasting change over the past year.

COMMUNITY PROJECT 

Recognising an outstanding community-based project that places diversity, equity and inclusion at the heart of its work. This award celebrates a project that responds to the needs of its community, brings people together, removes barriers and delivers meaningful, positive and lasting change for those it serves.

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DIVERSITY

TEAM

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Recognising an outstanding team that has driven meaningful and measurable progress in equality, diversity and inclusion within its organisation. Open to teams from the private, public and third sectors, this award celebrates collaborative leadership, innovative thinking and sustained action that has removed barriers, improved representation and created a more equitable and inclusive workplace.​​

HEAD OF DIVERSITY/ Belonging / Inclusio

Recognising an outstanding senior leader who has demonstrated exceptional vision, leadership and commitment in advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging within their organisation. This award celebrates an individual who has set ambitious standards, influenced organisational strategy, inspired others and delivered meaningful, measurable and lasting change over the past 12 months.

DIVERSITY

CHAMPION

Recognising an outstanding individual who has used their voice, influence and platform to champion equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace, through the media or across wider society. This award celebrates someone who has challenged inequality, raised awareness, inspired others and turned their commitment into meaningful action and lasting positive change.

COMPANY

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This award recognises an organisation that has embedded diversity, equity and inclusion throughout every level of its business, from senior leadership to the wider workforce. It celebrates a company that turns progressive values into meaningful action, creating measurable and lasting benefits for its employees, customers, communities and other stakeholders.

OUTSTANDING ETHNICITY Network

Recognising an outstanding employee-led Ethnicity Network dedicated to representing, supporting and amplifying the voices of colleagues from ethnic and racialised communities. This award celebrates a network that has strengthened belonging, challenged racial inequality, increased cultural understanding and influenced meaningful organisational change during the past 12 months.

This category is open only to employee networks whose primary purpose is advancing racial equity and supporting colleagues from ethnic and racialised communities.

OUTSTANDING LGBTQIA NETWORK 

Recognising an outstanding employee-led LGBTQIA+ Network dedicated to representing, supporting and amplifying the voices of LGBTQIA+ colleagues. This award celebrates a network that has strengthened belonging, increased visibility, championed allyship and influenced meaningful organisational change during the past 12 months.

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This category is open only to employee networks whose primary purpose is advancing LGBTQIA+ equality and inclusion in the workplace.

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INSPIRATIONAL

ROLE MODEL

Recognising an exceptional individual whose visible and unwavering commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion sets a powerful example for others. This award celebrates someone who leads with authenticity, uses their voice and lived experience to inspire positive change, and empowers others to embrace difference, challenge inequality and help create a more inclusive society.

Social mobility initiative 

Recognising an outstanding organisation or initiative that has taken meaningful action to address social inequality and remove socio-economic barriers to opportunity and career progression. This award celebrates work that has widened access, supported people from less-advantaged backgrounds and created fairer pathways into employment, development and leadership during the past 12 months.

INNOVATION BY DESIGN

Recognising an outstanding product, service or system designed to make everyday life or work more accessible, equitable and inclusive. Open to extraordinary founders and organisations of every type and size, this award celebrates extraordinary innovation that removes barriers, expands access and delivers meaningful impact for clearly defined underserved communities (disability, neurodiversity, low literacy, ageing, carers, low income, refugees, language barriers, women, working parents, LGBTQIA+, ethnicity).

MEDIA

CHAMPION

Recognising an influential media figure who has used their platform, voice and reach to champion diversity, equity and inclusion. This award celebrates an individual who has challenged stereotypes, raised awareness, amplified underrepresented voices and inspired meaningful change, helping to create fairer representation across the media and a more inclusive society.

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LIFETIME

ACHIEVEMENT​

Honouring an exceptional individual whose enduring dedication to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion has created meaningful and lasting change. This award recognises someone who has devoted their time, influence and leadership to challenging inequality, breaking down barriers and expanding opportunities for underrepresented communities. Through sustained advocacy, courageous action and an unwavering commitment to fairness, they have inspired others, influenced attitudes and helped drive long-term progress within their profession, community or wider society.