Awards
The Disability Power 100 recognises the most influential disabled people in the UK each year at a purple-carpet awards event celebrating impact, influence and innovation.
The 2024 event took place on 20 November, with Celia Chartres-Aris celebrated as the 2024 Disability Power 100 No. 1.
The awards invite-only event has been described as “the hottest ticket in town” and is livestreamed free of charge.
Being recognised says you are a disabled leader, trailblazer and change maker. You are a role model recognised by your peers and a catalyst for positive impact.
If you would like to find out more about how you can attend the event in 2025 contact: Powerlist@shaw-trust.org.uk.
Livestream
The Disability Power 100 was livestreamed to ensure it is accessible and available.
It was hosted by comedian, writer and presenter, Juliette Burton.
Accessibility of the event
The in-person event is highly accessible.
At Shaw Trust we know that no event can be truly accessible for all visitors, as each visitor is an individual.
We work to offer as many accessible features as possible including Changing Rooms, accessible toilets, BSL interpreters, audio induction loops, live captioning and trained staff.
Nominations
All nominations for the Disability Power 100 are publicly submitted. We welcome nominations for disabled people from a wide range of backgrounds and lived experiences who are making a real difference in society.
Many entries are self-submitted and we welcome these.
Each entry is judged by our independent panel from the submitted nomination, and scored for impact, influence and innovation over the previous 12-18 months.
Judges are only required to judge one nomination per nominee, with no additional weighting given to the number of applications a nominee receives.
Where multiple entries are submitted a single entry is highlighted for judging.
Nominations will open early in 2025.
Categories
We recognise individuals in the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 across ten categories.
In addition we have five categories showcasing the incredible work of organisations and our rising stars.
Recognising individuals working in commercial organisations, those championing and challenging
internal and external processes to be more inclusive. This category highlights diversity leads at all levels working as entrepreneurs, employees and managers from sole-traders to multi-national corporations. What brings them together is their passion to disability inclusivity at the heart of their organisations.
Everyone’s disability journey and experience is different and diverse. Informing all aspects of a
person’s life and identity. We recognise this and our new award celebrates people who don’t fit into one category, individuals who are known beyond their sector, the all-rounders, entrepreneurs, exceptional leaders and challengers.
How we learn and what we learn is a huge factor in who we become. This category celebrates academics and educational professionals exploring how learning opens new pathways. Those sharing their research and knowledge to increase diversity and society’s understanding of their specialist
fields and/or disability.
Some of the most important changes start with one person making a difference in their local community, seeing the need and responding to it. This category is for anyone who is challenging the disability status quo in their local community, or advocating for their specialist sector.
Performing Arts, Television, Radio
Our performing and screen arts category celebrates actors, presenters, poets, singers, comedians, musicians and performers from across the entertainment industry. Those who champion disability out-front and behind-the-scenes, ensuring what we see on our screens and perform live is diverse and representative.
Politics, Law and Media
Recognising those whose influence shapes our society, our laws and our outlook from leading campaigners, politicians and lawyers who change policies and laws through the courts, to journalists bringing stories and experiences to light, this category recognises the deep reach this work has into other peoples’ lives.
Science, Engineering, Technology, Property and Construction
Celebrating the individuals designing-in accessibility. Improving lives of people using their services and products from the domestic and personal to large-scale infrastructure projects. People challenging stereotypes, demanding their industries become more diverse and creating change for
future generations.
Sport, Health and Wellbeing
Sport, health and wellbeing celebrates individuals promoting physical and mental activity to positively contribute to wellbeing. People at the top of their game – be they Paralympians, Sunday league, or local activity leaders – or wellbeing and health campaigners questioning disabled people’s treatment, medically and by society.
Transport, Retail, Service and Hospitality
How the purple pound is spent impacts the UK economy. This new category recognises the importance of disabled people as customers and consumers – and celebrates the business leaders
making their offer more inclusive.
Visual Arts, Fashion and Design
Championing the accessible fashion designers and product designers challenging how we produce the products we use daily. Demanding good design should make the world an easier place to live.
The photographers and artists documenting our world and our place within it. And the arts champions making spaces more accessible and opening-up the arts to disabled people.
This category recognises people at the start of their advocacy journey who are beginning to make an impact and create change. It celebrates potential and ambition.
Demanding change, challenging stereotypes and creating better inclusion starts with a campaign.
This category recognises the public campaigns making a difference to people’s lives by changing attitudes or improving access – either from an organisation or individual.
Some organisations just get it right. They live their values, purpose and behaviours. They are inclusive, their colleagues are a community. Disabled people actively choose to support them, purchase from them, work for them or commission them. Why? because these are the organisations changing disabled people’s lives for the better.
Best employer
All employees thrive when their needs are met. Where there are opportunities for growth and progression. This category recognises the large employers offering flexibility, inclusion and opportunities. Employers with strong policies, processes and cultures that make their disabled employees feel valued.
Best large employer (more than 250 employees)
More than 250 employees
Best small employer (250 employees or fewer)
250 or fewer employees.
Categories are assigned during the nomination process, however, during the judging process nominees may be assigned an alternative, more appropriate category.
Finalists will only be recognised in one category within the Top 100.