The Business Disability Forum (BDF) has opened nominations for its Disability Smart Awards 2025 today, to mark the United Nation’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
These awards are free to enter and open to UK and global organisations of any size and in any sector. Now in their eleventh year, they showcase the work of organisations that are improving the life experiences of disabled employees and consumers, by removing barriers to inclusion.
The awards are a platform for sharing real-life projects that have had a positive impact on disabled peoples’ lives. One in four people in the UK have a disability. And the estimated annual spending power of disabled people in the UK is £274 billion.
ADVANCING DISABILITY INCLUSION
There are 13 Disability Smart Award categories this year. They include two new awards specifically for small- and medium-sized businesses around inclusive workplace experience and customer service.
“The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is a perfect opportunity to raise awareness about the role businesses can play in advancing disability inclusion. But speaking about disability inclusion is not enough. We believe good intentions need to be turned into actions that help disabled people get into and progress in work and recognise the value that disabled people bring to the economy and society,” stated Diane Lightfoot, CEO of Business Disability Forum.
“Our Disability Smart Awards are an opportunity for businesses – both large and small – to show the practical steps they have taken to improve experiences for disabled people. We want to hear about projects that put disabled people front and centre. We also want to hear about individuals who are leading the way on disability inclusion within their organisation, tying in with the United Nation’s leadership theme for this year’s International Day. Many of our past award winners have used their own lived experiences of disability to achieve change not only in their organisations but far beyond.”
DISABILITY SMART AWARDS CATEGORIES
The 13 Disability Smart Awards categories for this year are:
Disability Smart Diversity and Inclusion Professional Award
This award will go to someone working in diversity and inclusion who has overseen real and tangible improvements for disabled people in the workplace and potentially beyond.
Disability Smart Leader Award
This award will go to an inspirational leader who has driven a disability inclusion agenda to bring about positive change and break down the barriers experienced by disabled people.
Disability Smart Technology Award
This award is for the use of technology that has really improved the life opportunities and experiences of disabled people as a consumers, in the workplace or in wider society.
Disability Smart Inclusive Workplace Experience Award – large organisation (250+ employees)
This award will go to a larger organisation that is a great place to work and shows that it values the physical and mental health and wellbeing of all its workers, including disabled people.
Disability Smart Inclusive Workplace Experience Award – small organisation (up to 250 employees)
This award will go to a smaller organisation that has introduced thoughtful, engaging and inclusive practices to allow disabled employees to grow, develop and thrive at work.
Disability Smart Inclusive Recruitment Award
This award is for an organisation or team that has created innovative, inclusive and accessible recruitment campaigns that have resulted in greater recruitment of disabled people.
Disability Smart Inclusive Communication Campaign Award
This award is for an organisation or team that has created a truly inclusive internal or external communication campaign, which has involved disabled people throughout.
Disability Smart Accessible Built Environment Award
This award will go to an organisation that has created accessible and inclusive physical spaces for everyone, including disabled people, and which promote physical and mental wellbeing.
Disability Smart Inclusive Customer Experience Award – large organisation (250+ employees)
This award will go to a larger organisation that provides excellent customer experience to everyone. This might be through the customer service they provide or by creating a new product or service.
Disability Smart Inclusive Customer Experience Award – small organisation (up to 250 employees)
This award will go to a smaller organisation which shows that size is no barrier when it comes to recognising and meeting the needs of disabled customers.
Disability Smart Global Disability Inclusion Award
This award is for a global organisation or team that has overcome the challenges of different locations and cultures to deliver for disabled people on a global scale.
Disability Smart Inclusive Product Design Award
This award will go to an organisation or team that has created a new product which is both accessible and aspirational and has considered the needs of disabled people from inception through to delivery.
Disability Smart Procurement Award
This award will go to an organisation or team that have improved the life opportunities and experiences for disabled people through procuring accessible products and using inclusive suppliers.
AWARDS NOMINATIONS: HOW TO ENTER
Nominations for the Disability Smart Awards 2025 open on 3 December 2024 and close on 17 January 2025. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in London in April. Click here to find out more about the awards and to enter.
RELATED ARTICLES
Check out 2024’s Disability Smart Awards winners here.
The Business Disability Forum reveals the list of inspiring finalists for 2024’s Disability Smart Awards.
How KPMG is working hard to improve disability inclusion and increase representation of people with disabilities in the workplace.
HSBC’s Group Head of Digital Experience and Accessibility Malintha Fernando MBE, shares the organisation’s vision to become the world’s most accessible bank through its Accessibility Hub programme.
Virgin Media O2 Sat Jabanda-Wilson shares how she has championed disability inclusion across the company to remove barriers for disabled and vulnerable consumers and staff.
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