The Breaking Down Barriers Awards 2025 will honour individuals and organisations that have made remarkable contributions to breaking down barriers and boosting social mobility across the UK.
Winners will be chosen by an expert panel of judges who share a deep commitment to promoting social mobility and equity.
The awards ceremony will take place on Monday, 24th March 2025, at the House of Commons—a moment of recognition, inspiration, and celebration, showcasing the incredible impact of these trailblazers.
✨ See the shortlisted nominees below! ✨
Thank you to our category sponsors:
Category 1: strong foundations in early years
This award recognises an individual or organisation that has made significant contributions to improving early years development and ensuring children are school-ready. The recipient will have demonstrated a commitment to enhancing early education, supporting families, and creating environments where children can develop essential skills before starting school.
Category 3: positive destinations post 16+
Kindly sponsored by UK Power Networks
This award recognises an individual or organisation that has excelled in guiding young people toward positive destinations after age 16. This includes supporting diverse pathways such as A-Levels, apprenticeships, T-Levels, and higher education. The recipient will have played a pivotal role in equipping young people with the skills, knowledge, and career guidance needed to unlock opportunities and succeed in their chosen post-16 journey.
Category 5: open recruitment
Kindly sponsored by Travelodge
This award recognises an individual or organisation that has demonstrated a strong commitment to open recruitment practices and career development opportunities. The recipient will have fostered an inclusive hiring process, eliminated barriers to employment, and created pathways for continuous professional growth, enabling employees to thrive and reach their full potential.
Category 7: widening access to savings and credit
This award recognises an individual or organisation that has made a significant impact in widening access to savings, credit, and financial literacy. The recipient will have supported people in managing their finances, reducing debt, and building financial resilience through innovative programs, services, or policy advocacy.
Category 9: extending enterprise
This award recognises an individual or organisation that has driven enterprise, entrepreneurship, and business creation, especially in communities where opportunities have been limited. The recipient will have empowered individuals to start businesses, supported small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and fostered a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship through mentoring, investment, or community development initiatives.
Category 11: infrastructure for opportunity
This award recognises an individual or organisation that has played a pivotal role in improving infrastructure that connects people to opportunities. The recipient will have driven investment in transportation, digital connectivity, or public services that enable individuals to access education, employment, and essential services. Their efforts will have contributed to reducing geographical inequalities and enhancing mobility for underrepresented communities.
Category 13: harness the energy transition
This award recognises an individual or organisation leading the way in creating a fair and inclusive energy transition. The recipient will have driven initiatives focused on sustainability, clean energy innovation, and reducing carbon emissions while ensuring that the benefits of the green economy are shared equitably across all communities. Their work will demonstrate a commitment to achieving net-zero goals while supporting job creation and economic development.
Category 2: successful school years
This award recognises an individual or organisation that has made a significant impact on ensuring students experience successful school years, fostering both academic and personal development. The recipient will have demonstrated a commitment to closing the attainment gap, supporting disadvantaged students, and driving improvements in school performance through innovative teaching, leadership, or community engagement.
Category 4: right advice and experiences
This award recognises an individual or organisation that has provided exceptional career guidance, mentoring, and work experience opportunities to young people. The recipient will have played a crucial role in offering timely and high-quality advice, opening doors to career possibilities, and equipping young people with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue their ambitions.
Category 6: fair career progression
This award recognises an individual or organisation that has excelled in providing fair career progression opportunities. The recipient will have created clear and transparent pathways for employee development, enabling individuals to build meaningful careers through promotions, upskilling, and continuous learning, regardless of their background.
Category 10: closing the digital and AI divides
This award recognises an individual or organisation that has made significant strides in closing the digital and AI divide. The recipient will have worked to increase digital access, improve digital literacy, and create opportunities for individuals and communities to thrive in a technology-driven world. Their initiatives may include providing access to devices, improving internet connectivity, or fostering digital skills and AI literacy through education and training programs.
Category 8: good health and well-being
This award recognises an individual or organisation that has made outstanding contributions to improving health and wellbeing within communities or workplaces. The recipient will have addressed health inequalities, promoted mental and physical wellness, and developed initiatives that create healthier environments, enabling individuals to reach their full potential.
Category 12: place - building sustainable communities
Kindly sponsored by Lumo and Hull Trains
This award recognises an individual or organisation that has made a significant impact in creating safe, sustainable, and thriving communities. The recipient will have championed initiatives focused on improving housing quality, reducing crime, enhancing public spaces, or fostering local economic development through place-based strategies. Their work will have helped ensure that communities are resilient, inclusive, and attractive places to live and work.
Category 14: opportunity for all - everyone, everywhere
This award recognises an individual or organisation that has excelled in creating opportunities for people of all backgrounds by promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. The recipient will have implemented initiatives that break down barriers to leadership, close pay gaps, and ensure representation across all levels of business, government, and society. Their work will reflect a commitment to building a more inclusive and socially diverse society where everyone has the chance to succeed.
Category 15: working in partnership to tackle social challenges
This award recognises an individual or organisation that has excelled in building meaningful partnerships to boost opportunity and drive positive change. The recipient will have demonstrated a commitment to working collaboratively with trade unions, community groups, and other external stakeholders to create inclusive initiatives and policies. Their work will reflect the power of collective action and shared responsibility in promoting social mobility and equal opportunity.
