Winners announced for Northern Ireland Equality and Diversity Awards 2019

The winners have been announced for the Northern Ireland Equality and Diversity Awards 2019, with local tech firm Sensata and Queen's University Belfast both featuring highly.

Every company aims to ensure equality and diversity within its organisation, and each year a few firms really stand out from the crowd for their work in these areas. The annual Northern Ireland Equality and Diversity Awards recognise NI businesses that have a demonstrable commitment to advocating equality and diversity within their organisations, and give them the opportunity to showcase the great work they're doing toward that goal.

This year's award event took place this week at a ceremony in Titanic Belfast and was organised by Legal Island, a local workplace compliance company that specialises in helping HR staff understand their responsibilities as employers. The awards are sponsored by Grafton Recruitment and Jones Cassidy Brett solicitors, and supported by Diversity NI. There are eight categories of awards, and this year's winners were:

Best Employer for Equality & Diversity in Northern Ireland - Small Organisation: 
Winner: Action For Children
Highly Commended: Pinsent Masons LLP

Best Employer for Equality & Diversity in Northern Ireland – Large Organisation:
Winner: Sensata 
Highly Commended: Allen & Overy and Danske Bank

Best Gender Initiative:
Winner: Gilbert-Ash
Highly Commended: Northern Ireland Office

Best LGBT Initiative:
Winner: Queen’s University Belfast
Highly Commended: Pinsent Masons LLP

Best Disability Initiative:
Winner: Belfast Health & Social Care Trust
Highly Commended: Habinteg Housing Association

Best Race Initiative
Winner: Sensata 
Highly Commended: Queen’s University Belfast

Best Initiative Impacting on Offenders or Ex-Offenders in Northern Ireland:
Winner: Community Restorative Justice Ireland, Newry/Armagh
Highly Commended: Extern and the Lyric Theatre

Individual Diversity Champion
Winner: Catherine McGinnity, R&D Process Development Leader with Sensata
Highly Commended: Jahswill Emmanuel Project Manager with African-Caribbean Sports Forum NI


"The awards provide an opportunity for sharing best practice and acknowledging the efforts of staff that are working consistently to further organisational objectives in this area," said Barry Phillips, Chair of Legal Island. "These individuals and organisations view equality and diversity as much more than a legal tick box exercise. They value diversity and recognise the benefits it brings."

Award sponsor Tina McKenzie, CEO of Grafton Recruitment Ireland congratulated the winners, saying "Tonight’s award winners represent the best of Northern Ireland’s employers, promoting and supporting their staff, creating welcoming and diverse work environments, and helping build a work force that’s truly reflective of the diversity in Northern Ireland."

Source: Written based on press release