RIDI Awards

Once a year we bring together leading changemakers in the recruitment sector to celebrate the very best of disability confident recruitment.

Our free-to-enter awards are the highlight of the inclusive recruitment calendar, and the high calibre of entries really puts our panel of judges through their paces.

The 2024 RIDI Awards are open for nominations from 9th July until 30th September.

Please get in touch if you are interested in sponsoring this year’s Awards.

RIDI Awards

Judges

We have an amazing panel of judges who are leaders and experts in their fields and give their time and expertise voluntarily.

Photo of Maria Grazia Zedda
Maria Grazia Zedda
Chair of Judges
Maya Woodley
Maya Woodley
Diversity and Ability
Teri Devine
Teri Devine
RNID
Mohammad Koheeallee
Mohammad Koheeallee
Coca Cola Europe
Tony Charalambides
GoodPaye
Lee Chambers
Essentialise
Charlene Overend
Purple
Kalpesh Shah
Harjit Bansal
NELFT NHS Foundation Trust
Photo of Adam Hyland
Adam Hyland
Evenbreak
Photo of Jacqui Gavin
Jacqui Gavin
5 Senses of Inclusion
Photo of Chris Rowlands
Chris Rowlands
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Black and white photo of Robin Christopherson with AbilityNet logo
Robin Christopherson MBE
AbilityNet
Black and white photo of Nick Goss with the Goss Consultancy logo
Nick Goss
Goss Consultancy LTD
Black and white photo of Heather Lacey with Eversheds Sutherland logo
Heather Lacey
Eversheds Sutherland

The Categories

All of our inspiring categories celebrate disability confident recruitment. Don’t feel you have to limit yourself to one category, you are welcome to make a nomination in as many categories as you like! You can nominate yourself, or your organisation, or you can also nominate an individual or organisation whose disability confidence you admire.

Further information on making a nomination can be viewed or downloaded here:

RIDI Awards Nominations Pack

Building Disability Confidence

This award recognises an organisation who has just begun their journey to be Disability Confident. We celebrate the steps taken to engage staff across the business, the changes…

This award recognises an organisation who has just begun their journey to be Disability Confident. We celebrate the steps taken to engage staff across the business, the changes made to reflect more inclusive practices and the motivation shown in getting up to speed.

An organisation who, although at the start of their journey, shows they are fully committed to inclusivity, and are stepping up to the plate to achieve this.

Open to: Recruitment agencies, businesses and organisations across the sectors.

Creating Disability Confident Recruiters

Organisations that are committed to being Disability Confident consider all aspects of disability inclusion. Developing the disability inclusion skills and awareness of your hiring and line managers is…

Organisations that are committed to being Disability Confident consider all aspects of disability inclusion. Developing the disability inclusion skills and awareness of your hiring and line managers is an essential part of your Disability Confident journey. We’re looking for stand out training and development programmes or initiatives that have inclusive best practices for recruiters.

Open to: Recruitment agencies, businesses, and organisations across the sectors

Disability Confident - Private Sector

This award singles out a business or recruitment agency demonstrating top-level commitment to the Disability Confident scheme and efficacious implementation of the guidance across their workplace. An avid…

This award singles out a business or recruitment agency demonstrating top-level commitment to the Disability Confident scheme and efficacious implementation of the guidance across their workplace. An avid proponent, and expert in how it can be utilised to recruit and retain great people.

Open to: Recruitment agencies, businesses, and organisations across the PRIVATE sectors

Disability Confident - Public Sector

This award singles out a not-for-profit organisation, local authority or government organisation demonstrating top-level commitment to the Disability Confident scheme and efficacious implementation of the guidance across their…

This award singles out a not-for-profit organisation, local authority or government organisation demonstrating top-level commitment to the Disability Confident scheme and efficacious implementation of the guidance across their workplace. An avid proponent, and expert in how it can be utilised to recruit and retain great people.

Open to: Public and third sector organisations or agencies working on behalf of clients in those sectors.

 

Disability Specialist

This award recognises a key player in the wider recruitment industry. Someone who embodies the model of best practice in providing inclusive recruitment and employment services – be…

This award recognises a key player in the wider recruitment industry. Someone who embodies the model of best practice in providing inclusive recruitment and employment services – be that workplace schemes, a supported employment programme or a unique partnership. A committed, knowledgeable force that has the one-up in their field.

Open to: Recruitment agencies, businesses and organisations specialised in disability confident recruitment.

Inclusive Recruitment Campaign

This award recognises a unique campaign which has been carefully and cleverly implemented to attract a diverse range of talent. We look at the thinking behind how roles…

This award recognises a unique campaign which has been carefully and cleverly implemented to attract a diverse range of talent. We look at the thinking behind how roles are advertised across channels, as well as factors such as language, imagery, access, and bias.

A campaign which is not only open and inclusive for disabled people but goes the extra mile to ensure they have been consulted and supported at every step.

Open to: Recruitment agencies and in-house teams across the sectors

Inclusive Technology

This award celebrates organisations that are embracing inclusive technology as part of the recruitment process. Accessibility of digital products, services or platforms is a key consideration for disability…

This award celebrates organisations that are embracing inclusive technology as part of the recruitment process. Accessibility of digital products, services or platforms is a key consideration for disability inclusion. We’re looking for the champions of digital accessibility and inclusion in recruitment and the innovative use of technology to provide a level playing field for disabled applicants.

Open to: Recruitment agencies, businesses, and organisations across the sectors

Pioneer of the Year - Agency / Team / Organisation

The Pioneer of the Year Award celebrates an exemplary disability inclusion Pioneer who goes above and beyond to ensure inclusivity in the recruitment process. They passionately believe in…

The Pioneer of the Year Award celebrates an exemplary disability inclusion Pioneer who goes above and beyond to ensure inclusivity in the recruitment process. They passionately believe in equality of access, promote it across the business and implement new and tested initiatives to ensure disabled candidates are attracted and supported into employment.

Open to: RIDI Pioneers and other exemplary recruitment agencies, in-house teams and organisations across the sectors.

 

Pioneer of the Year - Individual

The Pioneer of the Year Award celebrates an exemplary disability inclusion Pioneer who goes above and beyond to ensure inclusivity in the recruitment process. This individual passionately believes…

The Pioneer of the Year Award celebrates an exemplary disability inclusion Pioneer who goes above and beyond to ensure inclusivity in the recruitment process. This individual passionately believes in equality of access, promotes it across the business and implements new and tested initiatives to ensure disabled candidates are attracted and supported into employment.

Open to: RIDI Pioneers and other exemplary individuals from recruitment agencies, in-house teams and organisations across the sectors.

Nomination Details

The RIDI Awards are completely free to participate in. There is no cost to make an nomination or to attend the awards ceremony if you are a finalist. This is made possible by the generosity of RIDI’s partners and sponsors.

Making Nominations

  • All nominations should be made on our Awards platform, if you need assistance or support with this, please contact: info@ridi.org.uk
  • You can nominate yourself, your organisation, or an individual or organisation whose work on disability confident recruitment you admire and feel is worthy of an award.
  • There is no limit on the number of nominations or categories you enter.
  • Any UK-based recruitment agency, service provider, employer, public sector or charity can enter.

Key Dates

  • Nominations open on 9 July 2024.
  • The deadline for nominations is 30 September 2024.
  • Finalists will be announced in mid October 2024.
  • Judging takes place during October 2024.
  • The RIDI Awards Ceremony is on 05 December 2024 in London and online.

Top Tips

  • You can save your nomination and come back to it at any time before the deadline on 30 September.
  • Nominate yourself or a person or organisation you admire, we can always follow up with them for more detailed information.
  • Download the category descriptions, nomination questions and judging criteria so you can prepare your nomination offline.
  • Check out the past winners in our case studies section

Accessibility

We would like to make the nominations process as accessible as possible. If you require any assistance with making your nomination, or would like to submit a video message rather than written answers, please email: info@ridi.org.uk to let us know how we can support you.

Latest Winners

RIDI Awards 2023 Winners Announced

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Case Study

Ambitious about Autism collect their RIDI Award

Civil Service honoured for excellence in candidate sourcing

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