Thursday September 14 saw our second Menopause Friendly Awards. Last year it was exciting as it was new and a big step to take. This year it was just as exciting – if not more so – as we had doubled in size, highlighting a significant shift in the number of employers that are taking menopause seriously. Oh, and we literally gave our guests the red carpet experience to reflect the fact they are Very Important People in changing the lived experience of menopause in the workplace.

Hosted at the Royal Lancaster Hotel and, once again, presented by menopause champion, Louise Minchin, 350 guests gathered to pay tribute to the organisations and individuals who were crowned winners in the 11 categories. We were also joined by a further 250 people at virtual tables from across the UK plus many more joining us on a live stream.

Real Change

It’s a fact that we do still hear so many of the negative sides of the impact of menopause and what employers are not doing. I fervently believe that it is important to shine a light on the outstanding work that many inspirational employers ARE doing. Not only do we celebrate their efforts, innovations and achievements, we can learn from them and be inspired to take steps ourselves. 

I know how our message is being acted on across the UK; we now have 65 organisations who have gained the Menopause Friendly Accreditation compared to 23 last year. The winners this year came from a diverse range of organisations, large and small, including a government department, high street bank and NHS organisation alongside a university, football club and telecommunications business.  

That is a big growth and it is only going to get bigger. When the Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP delivered her speech, she hit upon this and the importance of building upon the growth, ‘It takes action, commitment and often courage to step up to change the lived experience of menopause in the workplace.  But employers must put it in practice; make it live and breathe.’

Change Ahead

Now that the last drop of champagne has been enjoyed and the music on the dance floor has come to an end, the takeaway from the evening is to heed Caroline Nokes’ call to ‘find a friend’ whereby those employers who are already menopause friendly bring others on board and support their journey through shared insight.

If we can see the same scale of change over this coming year as we have seen in the year that has passed, we will have taken great steps on our journey to have all employers being menopause friendly.

Change Our Future

The words of Ruth Bader Ginsburg resonate with me, ‘Real Change, enduring change, happens one step at a time’. The steps we take now and tomorrow will achieve enduring change that will help people for generations to come. Just think, the first millennials born in 1981 will now be 42 and knocking on the door of perimenopause. Many of the employers and employees at the Awards are likely to be parents of millennials. And wouldn’t it be so wonderful to think that their generation and that of their children won’t have to face the challenges that we have faced or encounter the barriers we have had to navigate? That thought drives me personally and professionally to seek change today for a far better tomorrow.

Congratulations…and Keep Pushing Forward on the Journey 

A heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and finalists. I know how hard the independent panel found it to choose winners in each category and I was delighted when they told me they ‘found the creativity, energy and commitment from employers (to be) outstanding.’  Delighted and also proud to be associated with such a great team of people.

We must now take the amazing achievements showcased at the Menopause Friendly Employer Awards forward to help others start or progress on the journey in their workplace.

Thank you.

2023 MENOPAUSE FRIENDLY EMPLOYER AWARDS WINNERS

Menopause Friendly Employer of the Year 

Menopause Friendly Large Employer of the Year – Thames Valley Police

Menopause Friendly Small Employer of the Year – Marine Management Organisation

Highly Commended – Bristol Myers Squibb

Most Inclusive Menopause Friendly Employer 

Joined Up Care Derbyshire

Most Open Workplace

Santander

Best Engagement Campaign

Department for Education

Most Menopause Friendly Environment

QVC

Best Trained Workforce

Bristol Myers Squibb

Best Training Initiative

BT Group

Highly Commended – Dentons

Best Support Group

WTW

Highly Commended – Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Most Supportive Partner

Huddersfield Town Football Club 

Community Award

Paula Rix – Medical Protection Society

Gill Thomas – Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

The Carolyn Lazurus Award

Maureen Montague – University of Greenwich

And there was one special, surprise Independent Panel Award…

This award went to Deborah Garlick, Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace for her outstanding contribution to the menopause at work agenda and to show their deep respect, admiration and affection. ‘Deborah Garlick has worked tirelessly to bring about change across the UK, and now across the rest of the world. She was talking about menopause at work long before it was high profile, and faced, what must have felt like an uphill battle at times, to make the case that providing awareness and support for menopause at work is essential. This work has not only changed workplace, it has changed lives and will continue to do so, and we know that is what really matters to her.’

With special thanks for our wonderful sponsors

SPECIAL THANKS from us to our amazing sponsors. When we said that we wanted to recognise the inspirational things employers do AND raise money for menopause charities and research, I am so grateful that you supported us. We couldn’t have done this without you!!!

HSBC UK | first direct | M&S Bank

Peppy

Accenture

BAE Systems

Boots | No7 Beauty Company

Bristol Myers Squibb

British Airways

Lloyds Banking Group

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Theramex

Vitabiotics