TV presenter and diversity champion Sean Fletcher acknowledged and praised inclusive employers as he revealed the winners of the prestigious 2023 Inclusive Awards at the Hurlingham Club on Tuesday December 5, 2023.
Hosted in London for the first time, the Inclusive Awards – organised by Inclusive Companies and sponsored by EON and Emcor UK – is the only awards ceremony that rewards organisations and individuals for harnessing a truly diverse workforce. It recognises the significant efforts of those who have excelled in their commitment to equality and inclusion across all strands of diversity.
Best known for presenting on ITV’s Good Morning Britain and the BBC’s Countryfile, Sunday Morning Live and Songs of Praise, Sean hosted the Inclusive Awards in 2019 and was delighted to return to the role this year.
“The Inclusive Awards are a great opportunity to celebrate those individuals and organisations who have done so well this year,” says Sean. “More importantly, this event acts as a spark of inspiration for others to see what can be achieved and is hugely encouraging for others looking to bring about positive change in attitudes, behaviours and outcomes in their own circles.
“It’s an honour for me to be on the stage meeting those people who have put so much into their work and rewarding them for their outstanding achievements,” continues Sean. “I love the way the Inclusive Awards bring together so many people doing such great work: the atmosphere in the room is electric, full of energy and respect for everyone who is playing their part in promoting diversity and inclusion.”
Entries to the eight categories were assessed by an esteemed independent panel of judges from diverse cultural and business backgrounds. Together they looked beyond policies and practices to identify those individuals and organisations who could demonstrate they have achieved true diversity, inclusion, equality and equity in their workplace or community. A Highly Commended Award was also given in each category.
2023 Inclusive Awards Winners
Head of Diversity & Inclusion Award
- WINNER – Liz Douglas, Anglo American
- Highly Commended – Joanne Conway, DLP Piper
Chief Executive of the Year Award
- WINNER – Stuart Love, Westminster City Council
- Highly Commended – Andy Briggs MBE, The Phoenix Group
D&I Consultancy of the Year Award
- WINNER – Equality Leaders
- Highly Commended – Diverse Educators
D&I Tech Initiative Award
- WINNER – myGwork
- Highly Commended – Global Equality Collective
Inclusive Culture Initiative Award
- WINNER – Metro Bank
- Highly Commended – Auto Trader
Outstanding Diversity Network Award
- WINNER – Aviva Origins
- Highly Commended – University of Sunderland – Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Staff
Social Mobility Project Award
- WINNER– Migrant Leaders
- Highly Commended – Greene King
Diversity Team of the Year Award
- WINNER – HSBC UK Inclusion Team
- Highly Commended – Anglo American EDI Team
Lifetime Achiever
- Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE
“The Inclusive Awards is always such a positive and feel-good evening,” says Paul Sesay, CEO of Inclusive Companies and Founder of the Inclusive Awards. “Now in its ninth year, it never fails to make me feel both humbled and proud to witness the immense efforts and achievements of people and organisations taking giant steps to make their workplace, communities and wider society more inclusive and equitable.
“We know that encouraging and embracing an inclusive working environment brings business and market advantages but it is imperative to look beyond these more obvious benefits to understand and believe that true diversity, inclusion and equity shape and build communities that make everyone stronger. At a time when across the world we are witnessing tragedies born out of an inability to accept diversity and be inclusive, it is never more important to acknowledge how fortunate we are to be able to foster positive change through our own actions.”
For more details of the 2023 winners of the Inclusive Awards, visit:
