Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace has announced the finalists in its 2026 Menopause & Menstruation Friendly Employer Awards, following a record number of entries and an incredibly high standard across the categories. Now in their fifth year, the Awards celebrate employers and inspirational individuals making a real difference to people’s working lives – turning awareness into action and creating workplace cultures where menopause, menstruation and menstrual health are understood and supported.
The finalists were selected by an independent panel of industry experts following a rigorous judging process. The panel looked for clear evidence and impact, recognising those going above and beyond to create positive and lasting workplace change.
2025 Menopause & Menstruation Friendly Employer Awards Event CREDIT Chrissie Brooks
The Awards will sit at the heart of a day of knowledge, networking and celebration on Wednesday September 16, 2026, hosted by menopause friendly accredited organisations in three locations to enable employers from around the country to take part:
- HSBC UK including first direct and M&S Bank in London
- Boots and No7 Beauty Company in Nottingham
- Rathbones in Liverpool
As well as celebrating the action, impact and leadership of trailblazing employers and inspirational individuals driving cultural change, the annual Awards raise money to support menopause and menstruation related charities and fund vital research. This year’s event will see the cumulative total reach £250,000 thanks to the support from the event’s sponsors: HSBC UK including first direct and M&S Bank, Boots & No7 Beauty Company, Rathbones, AtkinsRéalis, BAE Systems, Mars UK, Ninja Theory, Onvero and Menopace by Vitabiotics.
“This year we received a record number of applications and the standard was incredibly high across every category,” says Deborah Garlick, CEO and founder of Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace. “Being selected as a finalist is a fantastic achievement and every employer and individual should be incredibly proud to be shortlisted.
“Five years into these Awards, what really stands out is how far workplace support has come. We’re seeing employers moving beyond raising awareness to creating real, measurable change, building cultures where people feel understood, supported and able to thrive. With Menopause Action Plans bringing even greater focus to workplace action and growing recognition of the importance of menstrual health at work, there has never been a more important time to celebrate and share what best practice looks like.”
Open to all Menopause and Menstruation Friendly Members, the Awards comprised eight categories for organisations and one for individuals. This year’s finalists are:
Menopause Friendly Employer Awards
Most Open Culture
- AMEX GBT
- BAE Systems
- DHU Healthcare CIC
- Havens Hospices
- HSBC UK including first direct and M&S Bank
- QVCUK
- Ramboll
- Tilbury Douglas
- Warrington and Halton Hospital Charity
Most Menopause Friendly Environment
- Fletchers Solicitors
- Havens Hospices
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
- QVCUK
- TMS
Best Engagement Campaign
- ABM
- Boots Opticians
- Leicestershire County Council
- London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust
- South Yorkshire Integrated Care System
- TP
Best Trained Workforce
- Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service
- Leicestershire County Council
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Simplyhealth
Best Support Group
- AtkinsRéalis
- BAE Systems
- British Airways
- L&Q
- Manchester City Council
- MBDA
- Rathbones
Menopause Friendly Employer of the Year
- AtkinsRéalis
- Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service
- E.ON UK
- HF Limited
- Lloyds Banking Group
- Manchester City Council
- Ninja Theory
- Northumbria Police
- ScottishPower
- Tilbury Douglas
The Carolyn Lazarus Award for outstanding individual contribution
- Brigitte Khavani — South Yorkshire Integrated Care System
- Emma Lockwood — Rathbones
- Helen Gaier-Laidlaw — ScottishPower
- Jackie Williams — HSBC UK
- Karen Warnaar — ING
- Nia Alston-Holmes — DHU Healthcare CIC
- Prue Cross — Simplyhealth
- Sarah Malik — QVCUK
- Sophie Purvis — MBDA
Menstruation Friendly Employer Awards
Most Open Culture
- Fletchers Solicitors
- Lloyds Banking Group
- Mars Wrigley UK
- Ninja Theory
Most Supportive Workplace
- Boots UK
- Ninja Theory
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
