Positivity and innovation – the wisdom from the Disability Smart Awards 2025
Diane Lightfoot and Simon Minty, hosts of Disability Smart Awards on stage with winner Georgina Colman, Purpl Discounts.
Val Proctor, Media Relations Officer at Business Disability Forum (BDF), reflects on the impact of the Disability Smart Awards 2025, sponsored by Freshfields, on 29 April.
Hosts Diane Lightfoot, BDF’s CEO, and Simon Minty, BDF ambassador, disability trainer and TV personality, closed last week’s Disability Smart Awards 2025 on a high note by chatting about their highlights from this year’s finalists and winners.
For me, at my first Disability Smart Awards event (and indeed, my first major BDF event after only a month in post), there were two bits that stood out. The first was my chat with the co-owner of a small butchers’ business in rural Essex. He had a stroke about six years ago and assumed he would get back to full health. However, he soon realised that “most people can’t do everything, so it’s learning what you can do well and what you can’t do so well and relying on family to help. Despite having a disability, I’m still happy and that helps me”.
The second sentiment is that it is important to remember that “ability” is a big part of “disability”. I don’t have direct lived experience of disability but these two sentiments, in particular, really resonated with me as it demonstrates how those who live with a disability can achieve whatever they aim for. The resilience, positivity and general can-do attitude in that auditorium on the 22nd floor in Central London was a joy to behold.
When winners were announced, there were squeals of excitement, loud applause and just a general feel-good attitude among everyone who was there. The rapport between Diane and Simon as hosts was so natural, the jokes flowed unforced (and were greeted with much laughter), the canapes were incredible (thanks for the waiting staff who organised a special tray for those working backstage doing video work!), and the views amazing.
The feelings of one winner, RNIB, echoed many others: “We are on cloud nine after winning this award,” while someone else felt that the awards are a fundamentally important recognition and signal of the value of disabled people and their hugely important value to the UK. These feelings were evident among judges, finalists and winners alike.
One of the winners, RNIB:
“We are on cloud nine after winning this award!”
Huge kudos to the events and marketing teams for pulling off such a seamless and professional event. As one of the BDF staff, who was attending his eighth awards ceremony, said to me afterwards, they have taken on a whole new meaning in recent years and, this year, he felt small organisations were being particularly recognised alongside larger ones. It just goes to show that, whether you’re a three-person SME or a global conglomerate with thousands of employees, you can make a huge difference to ensuring life is inclusive for all.
Check out our Disability Smart Awards 2025 page to find out more about all of this year’s finalists and winning entries and to get some inspiration for your business.