Make A Difference Awards finalists ready for public vote

Make A Difference Media has announced the finalists for its inaugural Make A Difference Awards, who are ready for the public vote.

A four-day week pilot, a no-furlough promise and a Covid sick-pay scheme are just some of the initiatives, which have been shortlist for the inaugural Make A Difference Awards. Shortlisted in the Corporate category are UK supermarket chain Aldi, global affiliate network Awin, and facilities management company Emcor UK; with online training company Circus Street and call intelligence tracker Infinity going head-to-head in the SMEs category. A Volunteer Support Line, time given for home-schooling and reduced appraisals are just some of the initiatives which landed British Red Cross, Highways England and Sandwell College, in the shortlist for the Public Sector/Charity category.

Battling it out for the title of Unsung Hero are Christine Howarth, Client Services & Mental Health Ambassador at Allen & Overy; Rachel Pears, Inclusion & Diversity Lead, Internal Employment Council at RPC; and Laura DeCook, Wellbeing Specialist at Expedia Group. Meanwhile David Henderson, Managing Director of Tobermore Concrete; Guru Gowrappan, CEO of Verizon Media; and Jonny Jacobs, Director of Commercial Finance EMEA of Starbucks; are up against one another for the True Leader gong.

FINALISTS READY FOR PUBLIC VOTE

With just over a week to go until voting closes it is now up to the public to decide whether initiatives like an innovative mental health first aid training course, a company-wide kindness campaign or access to a virtual GP will get their vote. The public can vote in all five categories from now until 8 June 2021.

The inaugural Make A Difference awards, sponsored by Royal Mail and Optima Health, spotlight individuals and employers who have really made a difference to workplace mental health and wellbeing during a year like no other. “We were delighted with the response to these inaugural awards; and were impressed with the innovative and inclusive initiatives that have evolved during what has been a difficult year for so many,” commented  Dr Shaun Davis, Royal Mail’s Global Director of Compliance & Sustainability.

Adding to his comments, Simon Arnold, CEO of Optima Health stated: “It has been inspiring to read of the ways individuals and businesses have adapted to the challenges of the past year; and put the wellbeing of their employees at the top of the agenda. I applaud the work of everyone on the shortlist and hope they inspire others to follow in their footsteps.”

TOP WELLBEING STRATEGIES

Joining Dr Shaun Davis and Simon Arnold on the judging panel of the Make A Difference Awards were Claire Farrow, Global Head of Content at Make A Difference Media; Dr Kamel Hothi OBE, non-executive Director of TLC Lions; and Stacy Thomson, Founder of The Performance Club.

“The pandemic has made employers realise that if they care about their business, they need to care about the mental health and wellbeing of their people,” noted Farrow. “These awards recognise the hard work that companies and individuals have done over the past year; to bite the bullet and fast track their long-term wellbeing strategies”.

Voting closes at midnight on Tuesday 8 June; and the public can vote in all five categories here via the Make a Difference website. The categories include Corporate (more than 250 employees); Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) with fewer than 250 employees; Public Sector/Charity; Unsung Hero and True Leader. The winners will be announced on International Make A Difference Day; on Tuesday 15th June, from 4.00pm – 5.00pm during a free to attend webinar.