The National Centre for Diversity (NCFD) has published the Top 100 Index of the UK’s most inclusive employers. It also announced the winners of this year’s Grand Awards to celebrate the UK’s ‘best champions of equality, diversity and inclusion’ (EDI) in London on 16th January 2020.
Winners this year included businesses and organisations from both the private and public sectors with innovative initiatives and leadership from student unions to engineering companies, confirmed NCFD.
Huddersfield New College scooped Organisation of the Year award for the fourth year in a row, and Leeds Building Society won Financial Services of the Year award. Cardiff and Vale College was awarded for having the most ‘innovative engagement, diversity and inclusion initiative’ of the year. The Most Inspiring Individual of the Year award went to Steve Whitmore, who volunteers as a Special Constable with the Metropolitan Police Service.
FAIRNESS FOR ALL
“It is so important to demonstrate the excellent work that all our winners achieve in building positive communities to improve cultures and attitudes, ensuring fairness for all,” stated Solat Chaudhry, NCFD Chief Executive. “I am particularly proud that we celebrate excellent work across all sectors as these organisations are the future of the workplace in the UK.
“We celebrate the exceptional work of people and organisations who have EDI running through their DNA. Let’s rejoice at this and build a better society. The outstanding companies that won tonight bring a sense of decency, stability, certainty, well-being, hope, optimism and resilience in a world where mainstream political rhetoric has hardened.”
The event was hosted by Dr Hanif Malik OBE, and speakers included James Walsh, Head of Legacy & Engagement at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games; Becky Hewitt, HR Director at Leeds Building Society and 2019’s winner of the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Year Award Mike Regnier, Chief Executive of Yorkshire Building Society.
2020 GRAND AWARD WINNERS
| AWARD | WINNER |
| Most Inspiring Individual of the Year | Steve Whitmore, Metropolitan Police Service |
| Resources/ Procurement Manager of the Year | Richard Thickpenny, ACH |
| School or Academy of the Year | Oasis Academy Foundry |
| Student Union of the Year | University of Sunderland Students’ Union |
| Housing Provider of the Year | Port of Leith Housing Association |
| NCFD Advisor of the Year | Caroline Wells |
| Board Member/Director of the Year | Michelle Park, Together Housing Group |
| Board or Senior Leadership Team of the Year | Oasis Academy Hobmoor |
| Diversity Steering Group of the Year | Eiffage Kier |
| EDI Lead of the Year | Erika Montgomery, Huddersfield New College |
| Employee of the Year | Jamie Morgan-Green, Halesowen College |
| HR Director/ Manager of the Year | Louise Fort, The NOCN Group |
| Large Business of the Year | GallifordTry Highways |
| Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Year | Duncan Elliott, GallifordTry Highways |
| Most Improved Organisation of the Year | VolkerWessels UK |
| Most Innovative EDI Initiative of the Year | Cardiff and Vale College |
| Principal of the Year | Angela Williams, Huddersfield New College |
| Small to Medium Business of the Year | The NOCN Group |
| Further Education Provider of the Year | Huddersfield New College |
| Charity of the Year | Red Rose Sports Club |
| Engineering Company of the Year | VolkerWessels UK |
| Transportation Organisation of the Year | Transport for Greater Manchester |
| Construction Company of the Year | GallifordTry Highways |
| Financial Services Company of the Year | Leeds Building Society |
| Organisation of the Year | Huddersfield New College |
Click here for a complete list of the NCFD GRAND TOP 100 Index.
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