We’re delighted to reveal the shortlist of our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Heroes Awards, in partnership with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and NCFE. The awards honour, celebrate, and shine a light on individuals and organisations championing diversity and inclusion within the business, and technical education sectors. There was an outstanding field of entries and the winners will be revealed at a virtual awards ceremony on 24 February inspiring others on their own diversity and inclusion journey.
Register to attendShortlisted are:
EDI Initiative of the Year: sponsored by Toyota Manufacturing UK
Gareth Saldanha-Fallows, Acorn Training
Teresa Caroll, Education & Training Foundation Jeff Greenidge, Association of Colleges
Robert Watts, Labcorp
Sally Williams, CSR Scientific Training
Mo Isap, IN4 Group
Diversity Network of the Year: sponsored by Air Products
Katie Asgari, RNN Group
Dawn Poulson Whelan, National Ambulance Disability Network
Charlotte Smith, Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Rebecca Cackett, CGI
Harriet Padina, Siemens
Inclusivity in Excellence: sponsored by Palo Alto Networks
Ciara King, Errigal
Steve Williams, Coleg Gower
Haydn Thompson, South Staffordshire College
Judith Salmon, Association for Care, Training & Assessment Networks
Sandie Griffiths, British Floristry Association
Rising Star Award: sponsored by NCFE
Suzanna Blakeley-Monk, Princess Spark/Nick Blakeley Electrical
Geoffrey Mboya, University of Oxford
Ferheen Ayaz, University of Sussex
Anna Hart, Leonardo
Inspirational Role Model Award: sponsored by Festo
Carol Verner, Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Rebecca Cackett, CGI
Shelby Nicole Lefley, Firebrand Training
Puja Varsanai, Middlesex University
Inclusive Skills Excellence: sponsored by FE Week
Supported Learning Department, New College Lanarkshire
Mike Butcher, Pembrokeshire College
Mo Isap, IN4 Group
Skills Competition Diversity Champion: sponsored by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
Abigail Stansfield, BAE Systems
Ben Elson, The Manchester College
Leanne Newitt, North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College
Dr Paul Phillips CBE and Jason Hill, Weston College
Richard Hutchins, Institute of the Motor Industry
EDI Ambassador Award: sponsored by ForFusion
Mehmet Karamanoglu, Middlesex University
Alun Francis, Oldham College
Emma Andrews, Cardiff and Vale College
Judges had to make hard choices in going carefully through the entrants to decide who would go through to the final awards:
All nominations were really good and heartening to see the corporate and public sector doing all these initiatives.
Talent comes in all forms; you have to attract this talent by showing how inclusive you are and you retain them by creating the culture. It’s great to see this is happening in reality and is not just a big corporate tick.