Business Disability Forum launches its Disability Smart Impact Awards 2026
Business Disability Forum’s (BDF) Disability Smart Impact Awards 2026 mark a new chapter in recognising the importance of disability inclusion and the businesses and organisations driving positive change.
This year’s awards have been renamed to focus specifically on impact, reflecting the difference that inclusive business practice can make for disabled employees and consumers.
“The awards are all about individuals and organisations making a real and lasting impact on the lives of disabled people by removing barriers to inclusion, so it seemed logical to rename them,” said Diane Lightfoot, CEO of BDF. “Good intentions aren’t enough. For positive change to happen, we need tangible outcomes that help to shape a better future for everyone.”
The Disability Smart Impact Awards 2026 are free to enter and give UK and global organisations of all sizes, from a wide range of sectors, the chance to share their work to inspire others.
Since their inception in 2015, these annual awards have showcased the work of organisations and individuals that improve the life experiences of disabled employees and consumers by removing barriers to inclusion.
There are 14 Disability Smart Impact Award categories for 2026, including a new award specifically for small businesses (fewer than 250 employees) around inclusive technology and the use of AI. There is also a Lifetime Achievement Award.
“As we celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities today, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to raise awareness of the role businesses can play in advancing disability inclusion,” continued Diane. “The Disability Smart Impact Awards are a platform for sharing practical, real-life projects that have had a positive impact on disabled people’s lives. These awards go beyond recognition – they also spark sustained impact.
“By highlighting pioneering practices and inclusive strategies, the Awards inspire action and encourage cooperation. Many entrants have also gone on to form new partnerships through their involvement in the Awards, unlocking opportunities that drive long-term change across sectors.”
Imali Chislett, Co-Founder of Inkfire, which won the Disability Smart Inclusive Workplace Experience Award category (small organisation) at last year’s awards, said “Winning the Disability Smart Award has had a real impact on our work at Inkfire. It’s opened so many new doors to collaborations and helped amplify our message about the value of disabled-led innovation. It’s also strengthened our credibility with clients who are keen to build genuinely inclusive brands, showing that accessibility and excellence truly go hand in hand.”
Disability Smart Impact Awards 2026
The 14 Disability Smart Impact Awards 2026 categories are:
Disability Smart Impact: Disability & Inclusion Professional
This Award will be given to a diversity and inclusion professional who has overseen real and tangible improvements for disabled people in their workforce and potentially beyond.
Disability Smart Impact: Leader Award
This Award will be given to an inspirational senior leader who has led the implementation of real and tangible improvements for disabled people.
Disability Smart Impact: Technology Award – small organisation (fewer than 250 employees) and large organisation (250+ employees)
These two Awards will be given to one small organisation and one large organisation for a use of technology that has really improved the life opportunities and experiences of disabled people, in the workplace, as a consumer or in wider society. This might be through an innovative use of existing technology or through the development of a new digital, assistive technology or AI solution that has been created within the last 18 months and that has gone the extra mile to break down barriers experienced by disabled people.
Disability Smart Impact: Workplace Experience Award – small organisation (fewer than 250 employees) and large organisation (250+ employees)
These two Awards will be given to one small organisation and one large organisation that demonstrate they really value the physical and mental health and wellbeing of all their workers, including disabled people, and have thoughtful, engaging and inclusive workplace practices. This might be through a new way of delivering effective workplace adjustments, a holistic wellbeing programme, accessible and inclusive learning and development solutions or a truly inclusive approach to the workplace that enables disabled people to grow, develop and thrive in the organisation.
Disability Smart Impact: Recruitment Award
This Award will be given to an organisation (of any size) or team that has created innovative, engaging and, most of all, inclusive and accessible recruitment campaigns that have resulted in greater numbers of disabled people obtaining work or accessing a profession.
Disability Smart Impact: Inclusive Communication Award
This Award will be given to an organisation (of any size) or team that has created a truly inclusive and accessible internal or external communication campaign or piece of work.
Disability Smart Impact: Customer Experience Award – small organisation small organisation (fewer than 250 employees) and large organisation (250+ employees)
These Awards will be given to one small organisation and one large organisation which have provided excellent customer experience to everyone – including disabled people. We want to reward and showcase truly inclusive customer service from organisations which have gone the extra mile to break down barriers experienced by disabled customers, service-users or clients either in person or online.
Disability Smart Impact: Accessible Built Environment Award
This Award will be given to an organisation of any size that has created accessible and inclusive physical environments for everyone, including disabled people.
Disability Smart Impact: Global Disability Inclusion Award
This Award will be given to a global organisation or team that has made a tangible, positive impact to the lives of disabled employees, customers, or service users across a global setting.
Disability Smart Impact: Product Design Award
This Award will go to an organisation (of any size) or team that has brought a new product to market (in the last 18 months) which is both accessible and aspirational in terms of its functionality and design.
Disability Smart Impact: Procurement Award
This Award will go to an organisation (of any size) or team that has improved the life opportunities and experiences for disabled people through inclusive procurement practices.
Disability Smart Impact: Lifetime Achievement Award
This is an opportunity to celebrate the work of an outstanding individual from one of our Member or Partner organisations who has shown ongoing commitment to improving the lives of disabled people, by removing barriers to inclusion.
Disability Smart Impact Awards nominations
Nominations for the Disability Smart Impact Awards 2026 open on 3 December 2025 and close on 21 January 2026. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in London in April 2026. Go to Business Disability Forum’s Disability Smart Impact Awards page to find out how to enter and to read about past winners.
About the Business Disability Forum
Business Disability Forum is the leading business membership organisation in disability inclusion. We work with business, Government and disabled people, to improve the life experiences of disabled employees and consumers, by removing barriers to inclusion.
- We work with over 600 members employing over 20% of the UK workforce and a further 16 million people worldwide.
- We advise, support and encourage businesses (many of them global) to become more disability-smart.
- We influence policymakers, informed by the experiences of business and disabled people – as employees and consumers.
- We provide evidence-based thought leadership on how business affects the lives of disabled people.
- We help effect changes in business practices, products, services and policies that positively impact the life experiences of disabled people and also benefit business.