THE SHORTLIST LAUNCH

LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE WELCOMES THE BRITISH DIVERSITY AWARDS TO CLOSE LONDON’S MARKETS

The Market Close ceremony on the 28th January celebrates the launch of the 2026 British Diversity Awards, which LSEG is immensely proud to headline sponsor.

Delivered by Diversity Umbrella, the British Diversity Awards celebrate organisations and individuals who are leading the way in building fairer, more inclusive workplaces across the UK. The Awards shine a spotlight on inspiring stories of progress, innovation, and leadership, recognising those whose commitment to diversity, equity and belonging is creating meaningful impact in workplaces and communities.

The ceremony formed part of a wider programme that also included a panel discussion exploring how impact is measured, the role of leadership in driving lasting cultural change, and what distinguishes truly meaningful inclusion initiatives. Category sponsors of the British Diversity Awards were also in attendance, bringing together leaders and advocates from across sectors to connect, share insight and celebrate progress.

The occasion also marked the launch of the Global Inclusion List 2026, which recognises leaders and innovators who embed diversity and inclusion in their organisations and drive positive change on a global scale. We are incredibly proud to share that Erica Bourne, Jennifer Thomas, and WINTech have all been named on this year’s list. WINTech has been celebrated in the Network category — a testament to its powerful role in championing gender equity in engineering.

Linda Riley, Founder of the British Diversity Awards, said: "What a fantastic way to mark the launch of the 2026 British Diversity Awards. I am incredibly grateful to LSEG for their leadership as headline sponsor and for hosting us today. Bringing together our sponsors, finalists and partners reflects a shared commitment to diversity, equity and belonging, and highlights the importance of building fairer, more representative workplaces that strengthen organisations and communities alike."

Accenture UK and Ireland with Digi Learning are incredibly proud to have been recognised with the Social Mobility Initiative of the Year award at the British Diversity Awards 2026. This win reflects the real, tangible impact our partnership with Digilearning is having across the nation; where initiatives like Social Mobility Month open doors for people who have historically faced barriers to careers in technology and professional services.

I believe that where you come from should never define where you can go. Social mobility isn't a side of desk or programme for us; it is a core leadership behaviour to drive to how we build our business and our culture for the future generation across the communities we serve.

This award belongs to every colleague, mentor and partner who has invested their time and passion into making that belief a reality with Social Mobility Month. I am so proud of what our team achieved last year and the impact to be recognised is incredible.

Alex Jonas – Accenture UK & Ireland, Strategy & Consultancy, Senior Manager, Financial Services