BDF Disability Smart Awards 2021: Winners Announced

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Winners of the Disability Smart Awards 2021 were announced at a virtual ceremony on 2 December 2021, hosted by Business Disability Forum and sponsored by Microlink.

The awards celebrate and promote disability inclusive practice across areas including leadership, recruitment, workplace experience, customer service, and technology. Twelve organisations and individuals won the coveted awards. Alongside the winners, several individuals and organisations were awarded ‘Highly Commended’ status for their achievements.

GSK and Accenture were among those honoured at the awards. Both are members of the ILO Global Business Disability Network.

GSK won the Disability Smart Workplace Adjustments Award for creating an adjustments process built on empowerment and trust. Judges said:

“GSK employees can self-serve assistive technology adjustments with auto approval and are not required to demonstrate that they have a disability or condition in order access support. Rather, the emphasis is on productivity and supporting everyone to thrive at GSK. The satisfaction scores for the service are outstanding.”

Accenture was highly commended in the same category for introducing a person-centred, global workplace adjustments process. Judges commented:

“Taking a global approach to adjustments has produced clear benefits, yet the model is flexible enough to allow each request to be managed in a person-centred way. The results are impressive.”

Unilever also received an award. They won the Disability Smart Communications category for embedding inclusive communication practices across all their communication channels.
In their feedback, the judging panel said:

“Unilever has put inclusion at the heart of its internal and external communication strategies, breaking down communication barriers and changing culture. Alongside this, members of its disability networks are playing a key role in strategic decision making, helping shape Unilever to be a more inclusive workplace.”

For further information on the Disability Smart Awards, please visit Business Disability Forum’s website businessdisabilityforum.org.uk/disability-smart-awards-2021-finalists-winners/