The British LGBT Awards has revealed its 2025 shortlist, putting a spotlight on the most influential business leaders and organisations that continue to champion inclusion and diversity across the UK and beyond.
Scheduled for Friday 20 June 2025—during Pride Month—the ceremony in London will honour individuals and companies demonstrating a tangible commitment to LGBTQ+ representation and equality in the workplace.
Major corporations and brands such as HSBC, OVO Energy, Google, Burberry, Channel 4 and Legal & General feature on this year’s shortlist, contending for top honours to be announced at the ceremony. These business leaders have been recognised for their pivotal role in advancing equality: from spearheading pioneering policies to encouraging authentic and supportive office cultures where LGBTQ+ employees can thrive.
Seven categories: who’s made the cut
• Champion Ally: Nominees from firms including Ashurst, Burberry, Legal & General, MSD, NatWest, Portobello Brewery, PwC, Thames Water and Zurich Insurance. They are celebrated for going above and beyond to foster LGBTQ+ inclusion and act as vocal advocates within their companies and communities.
• Diversity Trailblazer: Nominees from Arup, Capgemini UK, Centrica, Lloyds Banking Group, Moody’s, Penna, RWS, Tesco, Travers Smith and Wickes. These individuals and teams have led pioneering initiatives, supporting structural change that lifts up LGBTQ+ colleagues.
• Future Leader: Rising stars at Bank of Ireland, Deutsche Bank, Google UK, ITV, JTI UK, KPMG UK, NatWest, Practice Plus Group, Standard Chartered Bank and Tesco who have used their voices to drive progress, inspiring the next generation of inclusive leaders.
• Inclusive Campaigner: Representatives at Baker Hughes, Bank of America, Deloitte, InfoSum, Johnson Matthey, Just Eat Takeaway, National Energy System, State Street, Virgin Money and Zurich Insurance. They are applauded for tireless activism and awareness-building, propelling LGBTQ+ issues to the forefront of corporate agendas.
• Inclusive Company: Arup, HSBC UK, KPMG UK, Legal & General Group, Metro Bank, Nationwide Building Society, OVO Energy, Sky UK, Warner Music and Wickes. All have made significant strides in creating welcoming workplaces through best practice, training programmes and supportive staff networks.
• Inspirational Leader: Individuals from AIG UK, Burberry, Capgemini UK, Diageo, Google UK, International Professional Security Association, LV=, National Grid, Sainsbury’s and Sky UK. Their outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment have helped embed LGBTQ+ inclusivity into corporate culture.
• Network Group: Split into two categories—those founded after 2015 and those established in or before 2015. Nominees include employee-led groups at Channel 4, Dentsu, Heathrow Airport, LSEG, BT Group, Co-op Group, Deloitte and PwC, among many others, all recognised for supporting LGBTQ+ staff through grassroots events, safe spaces and policy guidance.
Sarah Garrett MBE, Founder of the British LGBT Awards, praised the breadth and calibre of this year’s nominees: “It’s fantastic to see such a strong, diverse shortlist for 2025. These companies and individuals work tirelessly to ensure LGBTQ+ equality is more than just a promise—it’s part of the culture.”
Kelvin Anderson, Chair of LGBTQ+ at Tesco’s colleague network, expressed his pride in Tesco’s continued involvement: “At Tesco, we believe in Standing Proud Together all year round. We are delighted to partner with the British LGBT Awards again and celebrate the remarkable achievements of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies.”
Winners for the corporate categories will be chosen by a panel of business and diversity experts, while public categories—such as the Celebrity and Public Figure awards—will be decided via a public vote. The awards ceremony, always a highlight of Pride Month, is set to take place on 20 June 2025 in London, with the Celebrity Shortlist boasting high-profile names such as Jade Thirlwall, Daniel Radcliffe and Jessie Ware in the mix for top honours.
