The organiser of this year’s National Diversity Awards has unveiled 2024’s finalists.
From a remarkable pool of 90,000 nominations this year, 125 individuals, groups, and organisations have been shortlisted as finalists for their outstanding commitment to advancing diversity, equality and inclusion in the 13th National Diversity Awards.
“These Awards honour the unsung heroes transforming lives and perceptions through their unwavering commitment,” shared Paul Sesay, CEO of Inclusive Companies, and founder of the National Diversity Awards. “They also serve to inspire the next generation of diversity advocates to be courageous, take a stand and make a meaningful impact in their communities.”
The finalists are extraordinarily diverse in their identities, causes and actions, and include charities, campaigners, entrepreneurs and activists, all of whom work tirelessly to combat injustice and discrimination in very different ways. Group nominations range from a transgender rugby club to a charity supporting older people with pets to entrepreneurs excelling at creating meaningful change in the diversity and inclusion space. Individual nominees include a sock enthusiast on a mission to raise awareness of Down Syndrome and an activist helping LGBTQ+ Afghans. The winners will be announced at The National Diversity Awards 2024 on 4 October 2024, at the stunning Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.
INSPIRING DIVERSITY & INCLUSION CHAMPIONS
A highlight in the diversity calendar, the National Diversity Awards unite UK citizens irrespective of race, faith, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability and culture. Hailed as the ‘Golden Globes’ of the diversity world, this year’s event will be hosted for the second year running by world-renowned broadcaster, author, presenter and journalist Clare Balding, CBE who, in her life and through her work, champions diversity, inclusion and equity.
“I’m honoured and delighted to return as host for these uplifting and inspiring awards. It’s so important to recognise individuals, organisations and charities going above and beyond to unite their communities, making them stronger, safer and happier,” stated Clare Balding, CBE. “The National Diversity Awards celebrate all that’s good and powerful in an inclusive society and bring much-deserved attention to community heroes whose hard work and achievements might otherwise go unnoticed.”
NATIONAL DIVERSITY AWARDS JUDGES & CATEGORIES
Activist Katie Piper and Olympian and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Specialist Donna Fraser OBE were on this year’s judging panel alongside many others, dedicating their time to help choose the highly anticipated shortlist in the following categories:
- Positive Role Model: Age / Disability / Gender / LGBT / Race, Faith or Religion
- Community Organisation: Age / Disability / Gender / LGBT / Race, Faith or Religion / Multi-Strand
- Lifetime Achiever
- Celebrity of the Year
- Entrepreneur of Excellence
- Diverse Company of the Year
“Diverse communities are the backbone of British society,” said Ian Stuart, Chief Executive at HSBC UK, which is this year’s headline sponsor of the National Diversity Awards. “We are incredibly proud to be the headline sponsor of the 2024 National Diversity Awards, helping recognise individuals and groups who are making a positive impact on diversity, equity and inclusion across the UK. We look forward to celebrating the incredible role models and change makers nominated this year.”
Other sponsors this year include Direct Line Group, Amazon, BT, The Open University, Auto Trader, OVO, Lush and Manchester Airports Group.
NATIONAL DIVERSITY AWARDS 2024 FINALISTS
The full list of this year’s National Diversity Awards finalists (by category) include:
Diverse Company/Organisation
- Brit Insurance
- British Transport Police
- Princes Group Ltd
- King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Thames Valley Police
- Merseyside Police
- AMS
- Arla Foods
- Bridgend College
Celebrity of the Year
- Paddy Pimblett
- Louise Thompson
- Sam Thompson
- Felix Mufti
- Rylan Clark
- Adele Roberts
- Nikki Fox
- Carol Vorderman MBE
- Ashley Cain
- Alex Scott MBE
Entrepreneur of Excellence
- Adrien & Pierre Gaubert
- Victoria Emslie,
- Nic Ponsford
- Ross Laing
- Shada Lambert
- Simon Sansome
- Helen Cooke
- Ian & Sue Rainford
Positive Role Models (by category)
- Positive Role Model (Age category)
Fredi Nwaka, Seren Jaye, Richie Bow-Grace, Ava Joliffe, Rossino Griffin, Lauren Wyatt, Theo Sankson, Lisa Mason
- Positive Role Model (Disability category)
Simon Mckeown, Nicola Jayne Little, Joshua Hoskins, Bradley Riches, George Tappenden, Louise Farrington, Clarke Reynolds, Alex Partridge
- Positive Role Model (Gender category)
Jess Rad, Mary Doyle, Abigail & Donna Otchere, Tania Stevenson, Errol Murray, Dawn Thornber, Jenni Stuart, Amy Bevington
- Positive Role Model (LGBT+ category)
Lucy Clark, Steven Braines, Sab Samuel aka Aida H Dee, Tom Payne, Bradley Baines, Katie Neeves, Pank Sethi, Pliny Sooccoormanee
- Positive Role Model (Race, Faith & Religion category)
Taylor Mirkarimi, Raj Randhawa, Tashi Brown, Dharmesh Mistry, Sachin Patel, Nazim Ali, Aisha Thomas, Jonir Ali
Community Heroes (by category)
- Community Organisation (Age category)
SPACE Hertfordshire, SAFEquestrian, Cinnamon Trust Cornwall, #E Project, icandance, Reach Family Project, WCHG Youth Team, The K.A.Y.A.K.s Charity
- Community Organisation (Disability category)
neurodiversikey®, Happy Smiles Training CIC, InclusAbility, 53Two, Level Best Enterprises, Natural Breaks Ltd, The Autistic Community of Cornwall CIC, The Nerve of My Multiple Sclerosis CIC
- Community Organisation (Gender category)
CyberWomen Groups C.I.C, Refugee Women Connect, Endeavour project, Believe, OPOKA CIO, TechUp, Waves Wahines CIC, Amadudu
- Community Organisation (LGBT category)
Leeds First Friday, G(end)er Swap, Transmanian Devils RFC, FunnyBoyz, Radical Weavers, Cornwall Pride, Time for Inclusive Education (TIE), Bristol Butch Bar
- Community Organisation (Race, Faith & Religion category)
BAMRef Referee Support Group, Anime & Chill, Black Cultural Archives, Wolverhampton Grammar School Diversity Champions, BE.Xcellence CIC, Scottish Ethnic Minority Autistics CIC, Africa Oye, Karoy Foundation
- Community Organisation (Multi Strand)
MyCWA, Migrant Leaders, Future Leaders UK, Ace Programme, Banburyshire Advice Centre, Safety Centre, Mortal Fools, Gateway 978
Lifetime Achiever Award
- Aurelia Havet (Posthumous recognition),
- Clovis Salmon OBE
- Diahanne Rhiney
- Leila Thomas
- Gillian Archbold
- ACC Dennis Murray
- Raj Gill-Harrison
- Veronica Kumeta
- Tony Kelly
Check out last year’s National Diversity Awards winners here.
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