For lots of reasons I’m a bit sceptical about awards, it’s a hangover from my marketing agency days plus I’m naturally cynical… in the last few weeks I’m starting to think about them differently.

This weekend I was over in London at the European Diversity Awards where Broadlake were short listed for Company of the year and Outstanding Employee Network of the year. We didn’t win either, which wasn’t great but wasn’t that unexpected. It was out first time entering, next year.

I was also at the GCN (Gay Community News) hashtag#GALAS2025 where for the 3rd year in a row Broadlake sponsored the LGBTQ+ Ally of the Year, won by the absolutely wonderful Mammies for Trans Rights.

At both these nights I felt like an imposter and an outsider. I don’t know the reality of what these communities face, the decades of fighting for basic human rights, the othering, discrimination, abuse and often violence they experience just for being themselves. Its an uncomfortable feeling.

These awards were however waaay better fun, and people were waaay better dressed than at any marketing awards I’ve been to. There wasn’t a sense of competition but of collaboration and celebration, the nominees all deserved an award for what they were doing and the sense of togetherness and support for each other for what they were all trying to achieve was amazing. Totally different atmosphere and experience.

My friend Stephen Jacques often reminds me that with everything going on in the world, now more than ever, under represented and marginalised communities need people to stand with them, support them and celebrate them. Awards are a great chance for people to get together and acknowledge all that’s been achieved. For companies to show their support, for individuals to showcase what they are doing and for all allies to be there.

Congratulations and thank you to all the winners, to all the shortlisted and all the finalists, the sponsors and the people who work so hard to put these awards on.

Sinead Farrelly, MBS, Group Head of PeopleAisling Flynn Seán Lynch

Also Boy George won the Lifetime Achievement award!!

Daragh Anglim

Head of Impact