Disability Smart Awards 2024

Disability Smart Diversity and Inclusion Professional Award

• Carmel McKeogh, DFN Project SEARCH, for being instrumental in driving the impressive growth of DFN Project SEARCH which ultimately has so positively contributed to disability inclusion.  
• Michael Vermeersch, Microsoft, for setting the agenda and driving the work of Microsoft’s Disability Network and ultimately helping shape strategic activity for the organisation.   
• Kim Whippy, PwC LLP, for the breadth of excellent initiatives that Kim has delivered for PwC which illustrate her dedication, commitment and passion for disability inclusion.   

Disability Smart Leader Award  

• Dr Nasser Siabi OBE, Microlink, for demonstrating commitment, innovation, inclusion, impact and long-term change over many years, with particular dedication to providing access to assistive technology and accessibility solutions, aiming to break down barriers in professional and educational settings. 
• Professor Brendan Stone, The University of Sheffield, for leading and championing the Institutional Disability Strategy and Action Plan and the breadth of his impact as demonstrated by clear data, a focus on inclusive design and also on intersectional experiences which are often overlooked. 
• Oliver Holbourn, NatWest, RBSI, for his embedded, strategic approach to disability inclusion resulting in a huge scale of impact within the bank plus clear and generous leadership in the wider sector in bringing leaders together to accelerate the pace of change.   

Disability Smart Technology Award 

• Haleon, for their collaboration with the Microsoft Seeing AI app to turn barcodes into Access Codes that read detailed label information aloud on over 2,000 everyday health products for people who are blind, have low-vision or difficulty reading.  
• Family Care Trust, for creating an interactive Minecraft version of real-life Newlands Bishop Farm. The Farm provides work-based learning for adults with learning disabilities and the Minecraft version allows users to visit anytime they want to, in the virtual world. 
• Microsoft, for the precision haptic touchpad in Surface Laptop Studio 2 with adaptive touch mode which lets users with limited mobility use the trackpad with different parts of their limbs, such as the palm, the foot, edges of the hand, or residual limbs.  

Disability Smart Inclusive Workplace Experience Award 

• PwC UK, for developing their own bespoke, innovative neurodiversity learning programme Great Minds (Don’t think alike) when internal research highlighted the lack of practical awareness of how to support neurodivergent individuals.  
• Na Laga’at Center, for increasing economic and social inclusion through innovative enterprises including a restaurant, workshop and performing arts studio, that employ deaf, hearing impaired, blind or visually impaired people as staff and performers. 
• Texthelp Group, for their ongoing initiatives and dedication to creating a workplace culture where every voice is heard, and employees thrive both personally and professionally.  

Disability Smart Inclusive Recruitment Award 

• AXA UK, for their Accessibility Concierge service that ensures their central recruitment process is inclusive, accessible, and barrier-free to all who wish to apply.  
• Whitbread PLC, for their Thrive Programme that is innovative, impactful and demonstrates their unwavering commitment to supporting young people with learning disabilities and autism to improve skills, confidence and obtain meaningful employment.  
• Zayed Higher Organization for People of determination, for their programme to enhance employment opportunities for individuals identified as ‘people of determination’ by manually matching job seekers’ experiences with available prospects and evolving into an official employment service.  

Disability Smart Inclusive Communication Campaign Award 

• Reckitt, for their work with Ambitious About Autism in developing the Vanish TV advertising campaign ‘Me, My Autism and I’ to increase awareness of the everyday experiences of young girls with autism.  
• Tilting the Lens, for partnering with British Vogue for their issue ‘Reframing Fashion’ focused on disability justice, accessibility, equity, intersectionality, and pride and featuring disabled people on the front cover, disabled contributors, and crew members with lived experiences of disability.  
• The Royal Society and The Scottish Sensory Centre, for developing a range of new British Sign Language (BSL) signs to cover key terms in environmental science, making it possible for the Deaf community to engage with important topics including climate change, biodiversity loss and global warming. 

Disability Smart Inclusive Customer Experience Award 

• Marsham Court Hotel, for their passion and drive to creating a family-run, full-service hotel that is as affordable, accessible and inclusive for everyone. 
• TUI UK&I, for their detailed access guides that enable their disabled customers to make informed choices about their holiday and their dedicated, specialist Assisted Travel Team to help customers with access needs find and tailor their perfect holiday.  
• Alton Towers Resort, for the initiatives and schemes in place to support guests with additional needs, bringing inclusive fun to the lives of many disabled people and their families.  

Disability Smart Accessible Built Environment Award 

• European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, for their commitment to attention to detail in designing and creating a workplace that is functional, flexible, and inclusive for everyone.  
• The Huddersfield Town Association Football Club Limited, for their inclusion room that enables disabled supporters and their families and friends to come along to match days and enjoy the game together. 
• HSBC, for introducing inclusive design standards and guidance for all its branches and offices globally, ensuring everyone can access their facilities in a way that is comfortable, accessible and inclusive. 

Disability Smart Global Disability Inclusion Award 

• HSBC, for their Global Accessibility Programme that provides accessibility assurance and governance across hundreds of the bank’s internal and external digital projects. 
• Google Accessibility Discovery Centre, London, for being a dedicated centre, driven by disabled people throughout its development, for research and innovation in accessible technology.   
• The Valueable Network, Associazione Italiana Persone Down (AIPD), for providing vocational training and job inclusion to people with learning disabilities in the hospitality sector throughout Europe. 

Disability Smart Inclusive Product Design Award 

• Primark, for their affordable adaptive underwear covering a wide range of needs, with a seam-free bra, a lace bralette, a basic brief and a pair of period pants, that are available in stores that Primark is working on making accessible to everyone.  
• Amazon, for the introduction of inclusively designed mainstream products including Eye Gaze on Alexa on their Fire Tablets, Dialogue Boost on Prime Video, Voice Access on Fire HD Tablet 10 and Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids via cochlear implants. 
• HSBC, for their innovative virtual reality experience to help people understand and empathise with the navigation challenges and coping strategies of people with sight loss.  

Disability Confident Awards 2024

Sponsored by Ingeus.

These Awards are independently judged by the DWP Disability Confident Team.

Disability Confident Small Business Award

• Milwood Servicing Ltd
• Aquarius Hair Design
• Clootie McToot

Disability Confident Impact Award

• ICCE Team, Ministry of Justice
• Microsoft
• Vodafone

Disability Confident Mental Health & Wellbeing in the Workplace Award

• Bristol Myers Squibb
• Asda
• West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust