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Workplace Diversity Solutions scoops prestigious regional business award

Workplace Diversity Solutions scoops prestigious regional business award

A specialist Derby diversity and inclusion consultant has won a prestigious regional business award.

Workplace Diversity Solutions scooped the Nachural Entrepreneurship Award for Diversity & Inclusion.

The firm was shortlisted along with organisations Barclays and Eurostar at the awards, which were unveiled in Leicester, where the nine judges voted unanimously in favour of Workplace Diversity Solutions’ founder and Managing Director Richard Shakespeare and his team after recognising their commitment to building a more inclusive society.

Richard, 36, of Derby, hit the headlines in 2010 after being made redundant from the financial services sector.

He applied for 1,923 jobs over the coming 11 months before deciding to go self-employed.

Richard, who has Cerebral Palsy, found that many businesses lacked awareness of how to support people with disabilities in the workplace and decided he had an opportunity to support businesses in becoming more inclusive.

Since becoming self-employed, Richard has provided diversity awareness training to more than 43,000 people across the UK. He has worked with many leading brands including Eurostar, Standard Life Aberdeen and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks.

Most recently, Workplace Diversity Solutions has developed a market-leading range of eLearning courses on topics such as mental health, disability awareness and inclusive leadership.

Richard said: “I am delighted to have received the award, I am so grateful to everyone who has believed in me and supported us so far.

“Diversity and Inclusion matters to every business, I hope that through winning this award, I can continue to promote the importance of inclusion.”

Workplace Diversity Solutions were nominated for the award by Whitwick-based marketing company Quiet Storm Solutions.

Steve Megson, its Managing Director, has always been a passionate supporter of Richard's work and they have been involved in the Love Business Expo, which takes place in Loughborough, in February.

He said: “Richard is a truly inspiring individual and this award is richly deserved.

“Over the years, Quiet Storm has worked closely with Richard and we have seen at first hand the difference his knowledge, insight and advice has helped businesses to become more inclusive and aware of diversity issues and the impact they have on the workforce.”


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