Menopause and menstruation friendly employers and individuals whose commitment and action have proved lifechanging for their colleagues and communities have been recognised at the 2025 Menopause & Menstruation Friendly Employer Awards – powered by headline sponsor Peppy. The winners span both large and small private and public sector organisations ranging from a high street bank, hospice and charity to county councils, a fire and rescue service and football club.
Now in its fourth year, the industry-recognised 2025 Menopause & Menstruation Friendly Employer Awards celebrate organisations and individuals whose commitment and determination have succeeded in providing support, solutions and resources that normalise menopause in the workplace.
For the first time, this year’s Awards were presented in a daytime format including inspirational speakers, practical panels and community networking sessions. Three regional events ran simultaneously in Nottingham, hosted by Boots and the No7 Beauty Company; London, hosted by Standard Chartered and Liverpool, hosted by QVCUK. Each venue enjoyed bespoke speakers, panels and breakout sessions before coming together for the Awards ceremony.
“This year’s awards saw more entries than ever before and an absolutely outstanding quality of work,” says Deborah Garlick, CEO of Menopause Friendly by Henpicked. “The passion and determination of individuals have clearly been matched by the commitment of their employers to take action and change their culture to create a menopause and menstruation friendly workplace. Our independent panel had a very tough task to find winners from among the entrants and, in a few categories, we have joint winners as they simply couldn’t decide who to award.
“Embedding this year’s Awards in three regional knowledge and networking events allowed our members to come together as community, listen and learn from each other. Everyone left brimming with enthusiasm and ideas to continue their great work. I would like to thank all our members for their commitment to being menopause and menstruation friendly: the difference they’re making is truly lifechanging for their colleagues today and for generations to come.”
Generous support
Alongside headline sponsor Peppy, Boots and No7 Beauty Company, British Airways, Mars, QVC, Standard Chartered and Menopace by Vitabiotics supported the Menopause & Menstruation Friendly Employer Awards with additional backing from BSI, CIPD, SOM and The Gym Group.
“For the fourth year running, we’re proud to support the Menopause & Menstruation Friendly Employer Awards,” says Mridula Pore, CEO and Co-Founder of Peppy. “These awards recognise employers who are taking action to make the workplace better for their people. That’s what we stand for at Peppy, too: giving people proactive, preventative support so health challenges don’t reach crisis point. When employees feel supported through life’s big health transitions, it makes work – and life – better for everyone.”
£220,000 has been raised in total to support vital research and charities, including the University of Bournemouth’s work on menopause and autism, the Daisy Network, Menopause and Cancer and the PMDD Project.
Menopause & Menstruation Friendly Employer Awards 2025
Most Open Culture (Menopause)
Winner
AtkinsRéalis
Highly Commended
AMEX GBT
Battersea
City of Wolverhampton Council
Most Open Culture (Menstruation)
Winners
Lloyds Banking Group
The Huddersfield Town Association Football Club Limited
Most Menopause Friendly Working Environment
Winners
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service
Mars UK Ltd
Highly commended
Kent Police
Best Engagement Campaign
Winner
Alzheimer’s Society
Highly commended
HSBC UK including first direct and M&S Bank
Specsavers Optical Superstores
Best Trained Workforce
Winner
Young Epilepsy and St Piers
Highly commended
Manchester City Council
Leicestershire County Council
Best Peer-to-Peer Support
Winner
Santander
Highly commended
Alzheimer’s Society
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust
Young Epilepsy and St Piers
Northumbria Police
Menopause Friendly Employer of the Year
Winners
Private Sector – HSBC UK including first direct and M&S Bank
Public Sector – London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust
Public Sector – Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Highly Commended
AtkinsRéalis
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service
Carolyn Lazarus Award for the individual who has made the most significant impact
Winners
Mandy Baughurst, Leicestershire County Council
Melanie Redfern, AtkinsRéalis
Sally Busby, Southeastern Railway
Hayley Douglas, Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service
