Skip to content
ADVERTISEMENT
News

Henpicked reveals 2026 Menopause & Menstruation Friendly Employer Awards finalists

The awards will take place on 16th September 2026 at HSBC UK in London, Boots and No7 Beauty Company in Nottingham and Rathbones in Liverpool.

3 min read
Share
Menopause and menstruation employer awards
ADVERTISEMENT

Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace has named the finalists for the 2026 Menopause & Menstruation Friendly Employer Awards.

The awards, now in their fifth year, recognise employers and individuals who have made a difference to workplace support for menopause, menstruation and menstrual health.

Finalists were chosen by an independent panel of industry experts who looked for evidence of impact and lasting change. 

The annual event will also raise money for menopause and menstruation-related charities, with the total set to reach £250,000 this year due to support from sponsors including HSBC UK, Boots & No7 Beauty Company, Rathbones, AtkinsRéalis, BAE Systems, Mars UK, Ninja Theory, Onvero and Menopace by Vitabiotics.

Deborah Garlick, CEO and founder of Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace, said: “This year we received a record number of applications and the standard was incredibly high across every category.

ADVERTISEMENT

“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.” 

Garlick added: “We’re seeing employers moving beyond raising awareness to creating real, measurable change, building cultures where people feel understood, supported and able to thrive. 

ADVERTISEMENT

“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.”

Finalists for the Menopause Friendly Employer Awards in Most Open Culture are AMEX GBT, BAE Systems, DHU Healthcare CIC, Havens Hospices, HSBC UK including first direct and M&S Bank, QVCUK, Ramboll, Tilbury Douglas, and Warrington and Halton Hospital Charity. 

ADVERTISEMENT

For Most Menopause Friendly Environment, the finalists are Fletchers Solicitors, Havens Hospices, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, QVCUK and TMS. 

ADVERTISEMENT

In Best Engagement Campaign, the finalists are ABM, Boots Opticians, Leicestershire County Council, London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, South Yorkshire Integrated Care System and TP. 

For Best Trained Workforce, the list includes Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, Leicestershire County Council, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and Simplyhealth. 

Best Support Group finalists are AtkinsRéalis, BAE Systems, British Airways, L&Q, Manchester City Council, MBDA and Rathbones. 

Menopause Friendly Employer of the Year will be chosen from AtkinsRéalis, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, E.ON UK, HF Limited, Lloyds Banking Group, Manchester City Council, Ninja Theory, Northumbria Police, ScottishPower and Tilbury Douglas. 

ADVERTISEMENT

The Carolyn Lazarus Award for outstanding individual contribution will go to either Brigitte Khavani from South Yorkshire Integrated Care System, Emma Lockwood from Rathbones, Helen Gaier-Laidlaw from ScottishPower, Jackie Williams from HSBC UK, Karen Warnaar from ING, Nia Alston-Holmes from DHU Healthcare CIC, Prue Cross from Simplyhealth, Sarah Malik from QVCUK or Sophie Purvis from MBDA.

For the Menstruation Friendly Employer Awards, Most Open Culture finalists are Fletchers Solicitors, Lloyds Banking Group, Mars Wrigley UK and Ninja Theory, while Most Supportive Workplace will be decided among Boots UK, Ninja Theory and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Related