If your question about the Disability Smart Awards isn’t answered below, please contact us.
When are entries open?
Entries closed on Sunday 28 January 2024.
Who can enter the Disability Smart Awards?
The 10 Disability Smart Award categories are open to all UK, international and global organisations of all sizes, from a wide range of sectors that want to share work they have done to support disability inclusion for employees or consumers.
The 3 Disability Confident Awards (independent of the Disability Smart Awards and judged by the Department for Work and Pensions Disability Confident Team) can only be entered by organisations that are signed up to the UK Government’s Disability Confident employer scheme.
Check if your organisation is signed up for Disability Confident.
Why should my organisation enter the awards?
Winning a Business Disability Forum Disability Smart Award or Disability Confident Award gives your organisation the opportunity to showcase and celebrate what you are doing to improve disability inclusion and inspire others.
What are the award categories?
See Award categories and criteria.
How do I enter the awards?
Entries for the 2024 awards are now closed.
Can I add supporting evidence to the entry form?
Yes, you can upload a maximum of two attachments (5MB each) with your entry form. The following formats are permitted, with the following extensions: .pdf, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx, .pot, .doc, .docx
What if I need any information in another format?
To request any information in an alternative format please email dsawards@businessdisabilityforum.org.uk
Can I enter multiple categories?
Yes, you can enter as many categories as you like, but refer to the award category information and judging criteria and amend your entries accordingly. If you want to use one entry as a template for another category, simply use the copy feature, change the category name and then ensure that your entry is tailored for that category.
Can I edit my entry?
You can save your entry in-progress but don’t forget to click submit entry when it is complete. You can edit it after submitting it, but only until the entry deadline. After that no further amends can be made.
Can entries remain confidential?
If you are a winner or highly-commended, you agree to Business Disability Forum (or Department for Work and Pensions for Disability Confident Awards) promoting your entry as an example of disability-smart business practice. If any of the information in your entry form or supporting evidence needs to remain confidential, please make this very clear on your entry form.
Does my organisation need to be a member of Business Disability Forum to enter?
Business Disability Forum membership is not required for entry to any category.
How much does it cost to enter?
It is free to enter all categories.
How are entries being judged?
- Disability Smart Award categories all have two judges. Meet the judges
- Disability Confident Award categories will be judged by the Department for Work and Pensions Disability Confident Team.
The judges decisions are final.
When will the shortlist by announced?
The shortlist will be announced in early March.
When is the awards ceremony and who can attend?
Finalists and their guests will be invited to attend the Disability Smart Awards Ceremony 2024 (free of charge) which will take place in London and online on 30 April 2024, in partnership with Bloomberg. All winners and highly-commended entries will be announced during the ceremony, and there will be many opportunities to celebrate, network and share your success. Book to attend the live stream awards ceremony.
