Marvin OnumonuMenopause and menstruation friendly employers and individuals were recognised for their work at the 2025 Menopause and Menstruation Friendly Employer Awards, sponsored by Peppy.
Winners came from both large and small private and public sector organisations, including a high street bank, hospice, charity, county councils, a fire and rescue service and a football club.
Now in its fourth year, the awards celebrated employers and staff who supported colleagues by creating resources and solutions to normalise menopause in the workplace.
Peppy, Boots, No7 Beauty Company, British Airways, Mars, QVC, Standard Chartered and Menopace by Vitabiotics supported the Awards.
BSI, CIPD, SOM and the Gym Group also provided backing.
A total of £220,000 was raised to support research and charities, including the University of Bournemouth’s work on menopause and autism, the Daisy Network, Menopause and Cancer and the PMDD Project.
Deborah Garlick, CEO of Menopause Friendly by Henpicked, said: “This year’s awards saw more entries than ever before and an absolutely outstanding quality of work.
“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.”
Garlick added: “Embedding this year’s Awards in three regional knowledge and networking events allowed our members to come together as a 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.”
Mridula Pore, CEO and co-founder of Peppy, said: “For the fourth year running, we’re proud to support the Menopause and Menstruation Friendly Employer Awards.
“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.”
Pore added: “When employees feel supported through life’s big health transitions, it makes work – and life – better for everyone.”
In the Most Open Culture (Menopause) category, AtkinsRéalis won, while AMEX GBT, Battersea and City of Wolverhampton Council were highly commended.
Lloyds Banking Group and the Huddersfield Town Association Football Club Limited were joint winners for Most Open Culture (Menstruation).
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service and Mars UK Ltd were joint winners for Most Menopause Friendly Working Environment. Kent Police was highly commended.
Alzheimer’s Society won Best Engagement Campaign. HSBC UK including first direct and M&S Bank, and Specsavers Optical Superstores were highly commended.
For Best Trained Workforce, Young Epilepsy and St Piers won, with Manchester City Council and Leicestershire County Council highly commended.
Santander won Best Peer-to-Peer Support, while Alzheimer’s Society, London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, Young Epilepsy and St Piers, and Northumbria Police all received highly commended.
HSBC UK including First Direct and M&S Bank, London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust and Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust were named Menopause Friendly Employer of the Year.
AtkinsRéalis and Cambridgeshire fire and rescue service were highly commended.
The Carolyn Lazarus Award, for the individual making the most significant impact, went to Mandy Baughurst, Leicestershire County Council; Melanie Redfern, AtkinsRéalis; Sally Busby, Southeastern Railway; and Hayley Douglas, Cambridgeshire fire and rescue service.
