We have won the Most Supportive Partner award at the prestigious 2023 Menopause Friendly Employer Awards
- Huddersfield Town win Most Supportive Partner Award
- 2023 Menopause Friendly Employer Awards
- Comments from HR Manager and Equality Lead Zoe Shackleton
Hosted by Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace and powered by headline sponsors HSBC UK, first direct, M&S Bank and Peppy, the industry-recognised Menopause Friendly Employer Awards were presented by broadcaster Louise Minchin on Thursday September 14, 2023 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel. Over 350 guests gathered there while another 250 joined virtually from across the country.
Now in its second year, the 2023 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. Two new categories this year celebrated the work of SMEs and organisations fully embracing diversity and inclusion.
The extensive range of winners included a government department, high street bank and NHS organisation alongside a university and telecoms giant. They were judged by the Menopause Friendly Independent Panel who were looking particularly for the impact achieved within the workplace.
The Most Supportive Partner category saw excellent practice demonstrated by very different organisations ranging from sport to third sector. All clearly cared deeply about not only ensuring their own workplace is menopause friendly but also actively encouraging others to do the same. There were some great examples of reaching professional partners and organisations across their communities in innovative ways designed to resonate with them, break down barriers and provide meaningful support.
The other finalists alongside Town in the Most Supportive Partner category were Derby County Community Trust and University of Greenwich.
The first football club to achieve the Menopause Friendly Accreditation, and a finalist in this category in 2022, the Independent Panel felt that we had gone even further in its efforts meaning they richly deserved to win. For no personal gain, Town have given their time and expertise to help large numbers of other football clubs and other organisations, both inside and outside the sport sector, to become more menopause friendly. The Panel believed that ‘Huddersfield Town FC is demonstrating what it means to be an inclusive and supportive employer that cares for its community’.
We have devoted large amounts of time to support and advise, present and network at events at both regional and national levels. One notable event that we hosted in October 2022 was our first ‘Female Inclusion and Empowerment Conference’ which was attended by over 100 delegates, where we shared a video outlining our female-facing inclusion initiative.
The panel felt that the work that the Club is doing with its male fanbase is particularly important. Working with other organisations, the Club has supported many menopause awareness sessions and played a key role in helping them develop their own work.
Going from strength to strength, the Club has achieved national interest in their work and is working on a project in relation to World Menopause Day 2023.
Our HR Manager and Equality Lead, Zoe Shackleton, commented:
"We're delighted to receive the Most Supportive Partner Award in this year's Menopause Friendly Employer Awards. It’s an honour to be a finalist in this category for the second year running, especially when so many organisations and individuals are doing equally valuable work to support others with their own menopause journey.
"As a Football Club, putting menopause on the agenda has been groundbreaking. We believe it is so important to continually look for practical ways to support our employees, to ensure we cater for their health and wellbeing needs at all stages of their life, and strive to ensure we are as inclusive as possible in every aspect of our business.
"Being a supportive partner is about sharing our practice and helping other organisations to develop a menopause friendly culture in their own environment.
"We are extremely proud to have won this award and to be encouraging different conversations within football - it truly is a testament to the hard work of many members of staff at Huddersfield Town."
We were presented with the Award by sponsor Lloyds Banking Group.
"We are proud to sponsor the second Menopause Friendly Employer Awards. Menopause continues to be a paramount wellbeing topic for all of our people, and we have continued to turn the dial,” says Katherine Sargent, People Director at Lloyds Banking Group. “Our Menopause Promise promotes ongoing access to important medical and wellbeing support, active training and empowerment of our people to face talking about menopause and active removal of the stigma, so no one feels embarrassed or ashamed.
“We are vocal about our goal to ensure that all of our people are menopause aware and informed and are able to take affirmative action towards anyone experiencing menopause to allow them to get the guidance and support they need, when they need it."
To find out more visit: https://menopausefriendly.co.uk/awards/
2023 MENOPAUSE FRIENDLY EMPLOYER AWARDS WINNERS
Category 1 – Menopause Friendly Employer of the Year
Menopause Friendly Employer of the Year - Thames Valley Police
Small Menopause Friendly Employer of the Year - Marine Management Organisation
Highly Commended - Bristol Myers Squibb
Category 2 - Most Inclusive Menopause Friendly Employer
Joined Up Care Derbyshire
Category 3 – Most Open Workplace
Santander
Category 4 – Best Engagement Campaign
Department for Education
Category 5 – Most Menopause Friendly Environment
QVC
Category 6 – Best Trained Workforce
Bristol Myers Squibb
Category 7 – Best Training Initiative
BT Group
Highly Commended - Dentons
Category 8 – Best Support Group
WTW
Highly Commended - Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Category 9 – Most Supportive Partner
Huddersfield Town Football Club
Category 10 – Community Award
Paula Rix – Medical Protection Society
Gill Thomas – Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Category 11 – The Carolyn Lazurus Award
Maureen Montague – University of Greenwich
