Employee networks and inclusion leaders working behind the scenes to create fairer, more inclusive workplaces have been recognised at the Employee Network Awards 2026, celebrating the people turning workplace inclusion from words into meaningful action.
From disability accessibility and LGBTQIA+ inclusion to race equity, wellbeing, gender equality and support for working families, this year’s winners reflect the increasingly important role employee networks play in shaping workplace culture, amplifying employee voices and creating a stronger sense of belonging.
The Employee Network Awards 2026, headline sponsored by Haleon, took place on Friday 25 September at the InterContinental London Park Lane, bringing together employee networks, inclusion leaders and organisations from across UK workplaces. Hosted by Dawn Butler MP, with a special live performance from Leee John, the unmistakable voice of Imagination, the awards put the spotlight on work that can often happen behind the scenes, and frequently alongside employees’ day jobs.
“Behind every employee network are people giving their time and energy to make workplaces better for others,” shared Kat Parsons, CEO of Diversity Umbrella, organiser of the Employee Network Awards. “These awards are our opportunity to say: we see you, and we celebrate the incredible work you do.”
TURNING INCLUSION INTO ACTION
Among this year’s winners was Balfour Beatty’s Right to Respect, which received the Best Network Initiative 2026 award for its work to transform workplace culture and champion respectful behaviour. Phil Whaite of A&O Shearman was named Network Inspirational Role Model 2026, recognising his commitment to disability inclusion and accessibility.
Other winning employee networks represented a broad spectrum of workplace inclusion priorities. Ability@SGN at SGN was named Outstanding Ability Network, while BDO UK’s Bridge received the Outstanding Employee Network award. Family Matters at Winston Taylor LLP won Outstanding Family Network, while Unity at Close Brothers was recognised as Outstanding LGBTQIA Network.
The Black Employee Network (MBEN) at Moneybox received the Outstanding Ethnicity Network award, while Holland & Barrett’s Better Together Network was named Outstanding New Network. Employee wellbeing was also recognised, with Wellbeing@Entain taking the Outstanding Wellness Network award, while ScottishPower’s Connected Women was named Outstanding Women’s Network.
RECOGNISING THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE NETWORKS
The awards also celebrated the individuals using their influence and leadership to help employee networks create change. Tony Fagelman of Xerox was named Outstanding Network Lead 2026, while Rebecca Short of Deutsche Bank received the Outstanding Executive Sponsor award.
Georgie Willis of Eurostar won Head of Belonging, Culture or Diversity 2026. Jon Tilli of Deutsche Bank received the special Outstanding Leadership in Inclusion award, for his commitment to advancing LGBTQ+ inclusion, championing employee networks and driving change through his leadership of dbPride.
The individual awards underline an important part of successful employee networks: while grassroots energy can build communities and bring issues to the surface, visible sponsorship and organisational support can help turn that employee voice into sustainable workplace change.
CHAMPIONING ACCESSIBILITY
The evening culminated in the Network of Networks 2026 award, sponsored by HSBC Innovation Banking, which brings together winning networks to compete for the event’s ultimate accolade. This year’s award went to Ability@SGN at SGN.
The disability-focused network was recognised for championing accessibility, amplifying colleagues’ voices and turning lived experience into meaningful organisational action. Its achievement was particularly notable because Ability@SGN also won the Outstanding Ability Network 2026 category earlier in the evening.
THE UNSUNG HEROES OF WORKPLACE INCLUSION
Fair Play Talks highlighted the unsung heroes of inclusion when the Employee Network Awards shortlist was announced earlier this month. The winners demonstrate why that description matters.
Employee networks can provide communities for colleagues who might otherwise feel isolated, surface workplace barriers that senior leaders may not see, provide insight into policy and employee experience, and create spaces where employees feel heard and represented. But many of the people running them do so in addition to their core roles.
Recognising that contribution is therefore about more than celebrating successful events or campaigns. It also shines a light on the people contributing time, lived experience and emotional labour to make their organisations work better for others. The Employee Network Awards 2026 ultimately celebrated that collective effort – and the growing influence employee networks can have when organisations give them the support, visibility and leadership backing they need to create lasting change.
EMPLOYEE NETWORK AWARDS 2026: WINNERS & HIGHLY COMMENDED
This year’s winners and highly commended by category include:
Best Network Initiative 2026 – sponsored by The Voice
- Winner: Right to Respect, Balfour Beatty
- Highly Commended: Women’s Safety Committee, NatWest Group
Network Inspirational Role Model 2026 – sponsored by Centrica
- Winner: Phil Whaite, A&O Shearman
- Highly Commended: Abi Harrison-Nye, giffgaff
Outstanding Ability Network 2026 – sponsored by EmployAbility
- Winner: Ability@SGN, SGN
- Highly Commended: HAND, giffgaff
Outstanding Employee Network 2026 – sponsored by Ruebik
- Winner: Bridge, BDO UK
- Highly Commended: Domestic Abuse Support Community, HSBC UK
Outstanding Family Network 2026
- Winner: Family Matters, Winston Taylor LLP
- Highly Commended: Working Parents & Carers Network, Skipton Building Society
Outstanding LGBTQIA Network 2026 – sponsored by myGwork
- Winner: Unity, Close Brothers
- Highly Commended: LGBTQ+ at Sky, Sky
Outstanding Leadership in Inclusion
- Winner: Jon Tilli, Deutsche Bank
Outstanding Ethnicity Network 2026 – sponsored by Paramount
- Winner: Black Employee Network (MBEN), Moneybox
- Highly Commended: Springer Nature Black Employee Network (SN BEN), Springer Nature
Outstanding New Network 2026 – sponsored by giffgaff
- Winner: Better Together Network, Holland & Barrett
- Highly Commended: ADAPT, Paramount
Outstanding Wellness Network 2026 – sponsored by DeNovo Legal Services
- Winner: Wellbeing@Entain, Entain
- Highly Commended: Reproductive Health and Fertility Support Group, BAE Systems
Outstanding Women’s Network 2026 – sponsored by Laing O’Rourke
- Winner: Connected Women, ScottishPower
- Highly Commended: EmpowerHer, Calisen
Outstanding Network Lead 2026 – sponsored by Sedulo
- Winner: Tony Fagelman, Xerox
- Highly Commended: Saurabh Bajpai, NatWest Group
Outstanding Executive Sponsor 2026
- Winner: Rebecca Short, Deutsche Bank
- Highly Commended: Samantha Sheriff, Allwyn UK
Head of Belonging, Culture or Diversity 2026 – sponsored by Haleon
- Winner: Georgie Willis, Eurostar
- Highly Commended: Sim Sian, Mitie
Network of Networks 2026 – sponsored by HSBC Innovation Banking
- Winner: Ability@SGN, SGN
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