The Menopause Friendly
Employer Awards 2024
The Menopause Friendly Employer Awards 2024 was hosted on 11 September 2024 by Lisa Snowdon at The Royal Lancaster London.
The Menopause Friendly Employer Awards 2024
Now in its third year, the prestigious 2024 Menopause Friendly Employer Awards recognise organisations and individuals whose commitment and determination have succeeded in providing support, solutions and resources that normalise menopause in the workplace.
Hosted by TV and radio presenter Lisa Snowdon, the sell-out event had over 400 guests attending in person and via live link from across the country.
Organised by Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace, the 2024 Menopause Friendly Employer Awards comprised nine categories that recognise organisations, teams and individuals who have successfully changed the lived experience of menopause in the workplace.
Judged by the Menopause Friendly Independent Panel, winners were those who showed innovation and evidence of the impact and positive change achieved within the workplace.
Better yet, money raised from the Awards funds vital research and supports charities that help those who are negatively impacted by menopause.
“From start to finish the room is filled with love, warmth and happiness.”
Amanda O’Loughlin, British Airways
“Having struggled myself with debilitating menopause symptoms, I was inspired by the sheer commitment and, in some cases, bravery shown by people to bring about lasting change.
Lisa Snowdon, Host of The Menopause Friendly Employer Awards 2024
Menopause Friendly Employer Awards 2024 winners and finalists…
Winners came from a diverse range of organisations, large and small, across many sectors.
Please join us in congratulating these inspirational employers and individuals…
Menopause Friendly Employer of the Year – Private Sector
BAE Systems
The Menopause Friendly Accredited employer in the private sector which, regardless of its size, has embedded menopause into its culture, transforming the workplace experience for all.
Cornerstone, Huddersfield Town Football Club, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority , Specsavers, Thames Valley Police and Kenneth Green Associates .
Menopause Friendly Employer of the Year – Public Sector
Leicestershire County Council
The Menopause Friendly Accredited employer in the public sector which, regardless of its size, has embedded menopause into its culture, transforming the workplace experience for all.
Cornerstone, Huddersfield Town Football Club, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority , Specsavers, Thames Valley Police and Kenneth Green Associates .
Most Inclusive Menopause Friendly Employer
Thames Valley Police
Celebrating the organisation that recognises the diverse experiences of menopause and considers intersectionality in respect of how gender, age, ethnicity and cultural differences impact colleagues. This organisation will show it actively promotes inclusive participation in its menopause programme.
AtkinsRealis, and United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust.
Most Open Culture
Close Brothers
Celebrating the organisation that fosters open dialogues about menopause, demonstrates visible support from senior leadership and actively encourages everyone to participate in sharing their personal stories.
Federated Hermes Limited, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle Building Society , QVC and Royal Mail.
Most Menopause Friendly Working Environment
Nuclear Decomissioning Authority
Celebrating the organisation that puts colleagues’ needs at the heart of their workplaces, strategically designing the environment to accommodate adjustments for those working with menopausal symptoms ensuring they are comfortable and can continue thriving.
ASDA, HSBC UK (including first direct and M&S Bank), Kent Police , Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Thames Valley Police and United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust .
Best Engagement Approach
Young Epilepsy
Celebrating the organisation that has innovatively developed campaigns or initiatives to foster positive, creative and engaging perceptions of menopause in the workplace, integrating it into everyday working life.
Department for Education, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust and Young Epilepsy.
Best Trained Workforce
Lancashire County Council
Celebrating the organisation that runs a comprehensive training programme which includes exciting initiatives focused on menopause in the workplace, tailored to address the diverse needs of various audience groups.
Leicestershire County Council, Lancashire County Council, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Best Peer To Peer Support
Leicestershire County Council
Celebrating the organisation that has created the best approach to enable peer to peer support, ensuring a safe space and inclusive environment for conversations around menopause in the workplace.
ASDA, AtkinsRealis , British Airways, BAE Systems, Close Brothers , Leicestershire County Council, Mondelez International, Newcastle Building Society, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust , OVO, The Phoenix Group and Sellafield Ltd.
Most Supportive Partner
Huddersfield Town Football Club
Celebrating the organisation that goes above and beyond in motivating and inspiring external organisations to start conversations / take action on menopause in the workplace.
Huddersfield Town Football Club, Nationwide Building Society and Sellafield Ltd .
The Carolyn Lazarus Award for Best Individual Contribution
Zoe Shackleton of Huddersfield Town Football Club and
Louise Furby of Specsavers
The Carolyn Lazarus Award is a very special accolade given to the individual who has made the most significant impact on changing the way people think and feel about menopause, in or out of the workplace.
Carolyn Lazarus was the founder of totally4women (t4w), an online community for women to allow and encourage them to share their experiences, ask the kind of questions they had felt unable to raise before and offer support to one another.
The success of her initiative brought women together, often allowing them to gain, or regain, confidence and a sense of being. Carolyn was full of energy and fortitude: her determination and willingness to listen and learn was born out of her passion to help other women.
Tragically, Carolyn, wife to Marc and mother to Daisy and Chad, lost her battle with cancer in 2015.
Throughout her life she faced challenges and opportunities with courage and strength of spirit and would be pleased to know this award recognises such attributes in its recipient.
Julie Cridland of Aster Group
Alison Bryan of AtkinsRealis
Melanie Redfern of AtkinsRealis
Vicky Bawa of BAE Systems
Fatima Uzzaman of Department for Education
Karen Hurt of Kenneth Green Associates
Mandy Reid of Phoenix Group
Bob Crowe of Mansfield Building Society
““We chose to be the headline sponsor for the Menopause Friendly Employer Awards 2024 as we believe it’s vital to recognise and support the changemakers,”
Max Landry, Co-Founder of Peppy
With thanks to our wonderful sponsors
These inspirational employers are demonstrating that wellbeing is a top priority for their brand and that they’re keen to keep the drumbeat going, whilst encouraging others to join in.
“We chose to be the headline sponsor for the Menopause Friendly Employer Awards 2024 as we believe it’s vital to recognise and support the changemakers,” says Max Landry, Co-Founder, Peppy.
“Working closely with Menopause Friendly member companies to support their staff, we see first-hand the positive impact being menopause friendly can have on individuals and organisations. This was our third time at the Awards and it was the biggest and best so far!”
The Menopause Friendly Employer Awards makes a difference to lives
As well as supporting the Awards event, their sponsorship contributes vital funds for menopause-related charities, programmes and research alongside ticket sales and donations. Since its inception, the Menopause Friendly Employer Awards has raised £150,000 for good causes and this year’s event hopes to take this to £200,000.
Bournemouth University
Fully funding a 3-year study into the impact of menopause symptoms on autistic people, including what sort of support and adjustments may be able to help in the workplace
The Daisy Network
Raising money for The Daisy Network, a charity that supports those impacted by early menopause and POI (Premature Ovarian Insufficiency) through providing information, support groups and more.
Meet the Menopause Friendly judging panel…
Alongside governing the Menopause Friendly Standards, The Menopause Friendly Independent Panel review all applications for the Menopause Friendly Employer Awards, select short listers, highly commended entries and winners.
Alongside the Awards, they are also responsible for governing the Menopause Friendly standards, reviewing applications for The Menopause Friendly Accreditation.
All experts in their field, with distinguished careers across a huge range of industries. Above all, they have one thing in common: they’re passionate about accelerating change in menopause in the workplace best practice.
PROFESSOR JO BREWIS
Professor Brewis is co-author of the Government Equalities Office, Menopause transition: effects on women’s economic participation .
Putting this work into practice by introducing the first university menopause policy in the UK, and helping employers understand why being menopause friendly is urgent and important.
Evelyn dickey
A Non-Executive Director on the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) Board, Evelyn has extensive People Leadership experience.
She pioneered the introduction of the first menopause policy in Severn Trent in 2017 and has continually encouraged other employers to do the same.
Paul sesay
Paul Sesay is the Founder and CEO of the Inclusive Top 50 Employers, National Diversity Awards, Excellence in Diversity Awards and The Diversity Group.
With over ten years’ experience within the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion sector, Paul has worked with some of the largest organisations in the world on their diversity and inclusion.
susannah fish obe
Ex-Chief Constable Sue Fish OBE introduced the first menopause policy into a police force in 2017, during her 30-year policing career.
She’s passionate about menopause and leadership, encouraging all employers to take menopause awareness, education and support seriously.
jog hundle
Jog heads the health and care employment team at Mills & Reeve, having specialised in the sector for over 25 years.
She’s passionate about helping employers understand the importance of taking menopause seriously to benefit employees and the organisation.
Heidi cooper
Heidi is an Associate in the Employment and Immigration team at HCR Law.
It’s her mission to make sure menopause is discussed as openly as the office coffee order and weekend plans. Partnering with Henpicked in 2018, she passionately champions menopause awareness and regularly educates organisations on the critical aspects of menopause in the workplace.
Suzanne banks cbe
A recently retired NHS chief nurse, Suzanne is passionate about raising the profile of menopause in the workplace, having created and introduced the comprehensive programme at Sherwood Forest Hospitals Foundation Trust in 2018.
Since then, she’s encouraged other NHS Trusts to take action.
anne bell
Anne was the Senior People Lead at HSBC UK Corporate Bank. She was instrumental in recognising the need for menopause awareness, education, and providing support for individuals.
She started the campaign resulting in HSBC UK becoming the UK’s first accredited Menopause Friendly employer.
dr BELINDA STEFFAN
Belinda is a Research Fellow and gender scholar at the University of Edinburgh studying how work is reciprocally influenced by the intersection of gender, age and health and well-being.
Working with industry partners, she develops practical, meaningful workplace solutions around gender, age, health and work. Her research-led lectures address local and global workforce challenges of business and the future of work.
pamela hutchinson
As the Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Bloomberg, Pamela leads the company’s diversity and inclusion initiatives around the world whilst establishing strategic direction, goals and accountability.
Pamela is cited as one of the most visible and vocal thought leaders and advocates for diversity across the private sector and has more than 20 years’ experience in managing diversity cross engineering, financial services, technology and media.
Helen normoyle
Helen is co-founder of My Menopause Centre, an online clinic and community empowering women to take control of their menopause.
She has held Chief Marketing Officer roles with Boots, the BBC, DFS and Countrywide and worked in broadcast and telecoms regulation at Ofcom and in the mobile technology sector with Motorola.
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