LITTLE Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock has been tipped to win a major diversity gong after her powerful BBC documentary on racism in the music industry.
The singer has been shortlisted for the Media Champion in Public Eye at the British Diversity Awards, sponsored by Burberry, alongside the likes of Denise Welch, Tom Daley and Marcus Rashford.
Leigh-Anne Pinnock: Race, Pop and Power was praised by critics and viewers alike as the singer laid bare the prejudices she’s faced in the industry and strove to make it more inclusive for people from minority backgrounds.
Insiders claim she is a heavy favourite to take home the prize at the ceremony, which will be hosted by June Sarpong on March 10 inside London’s Grand Connaught Rooms.
Back in November Leigh-Anne took home the Media Progress Moment gong at the 2021 Ethnicity Awards.
She said in her video acceptance speech: “Thank you for the amazing contributors to the documentary who shared their stories – the film would be nothing without you. In the words of Dawn Butler ‘when the history books are written, what’s going to be said next to your name?’ The hard work doesn’t stop here.”
Following his gold medal success in Tokyo, Olympic diver Tom Daley got a nod for his work as an LGBT+ role model, while comedian John Bishop is also recognised for his work to support and advocate on behalf of the LGBT+ community.
Manchester United star Marcus Rashford is nominated for his tireless and well-documented campaigning for free school meals while football legend Jamie Carragher is also selected for his work with Football For Change, which aims to give young people from disadvantaged backgrounds opportunities in education and sport.
Brands and community groups advocating for greater diversity including National Grid and The Prince’s Trust respectively are among those in the running, while social mobility initiatives like Off The Agenda Podcast are shortlisted.
The awards will celebrate the individuals and organisations working to promote equality, diversity and inclusion, acknowledging milestones in business, media, politics and grassroots activism.
Burberry British Diversity Awards founder, Linda Riley, said: “We are incredibly excited to be announcing the shortlist of the inaugural Burberry sponsored British Diversity Awards.
“These awards will shine a light on the individuals, organisations, charities and unsung heroes who help to make the world and workplaces a better place for others across all strands of diversity. Celebrities like Leigh-Anne Pinnock, John Bishop and Tom Daley are fantastic role models and are incredibly deserving of their nominations.
“’We believe that by continuing to celebrate Equality, Diversity and Inclusion that we can help make the UK a better place to live and work for everyone.”
DAM Health – Campaigner of the Year
Daniel Lismore – Climate Change Campaigner
Jayne Ozanne – The Ozanne Foundation
Munroe Bergdorf – Trans Activist
Sarah O’Connell – The Sarah O’Connell Show
Sophia Moreau – Little Village
Sukhjeen Kaur – Chronically Brown
Valentino Vecchietti – Intersex Activist
Yasmin Benoit – Asexual Activist
Burberry – Charity of the Year
Anna Kennedy Online
Black Minds Matter
Changing Faces
Galop
Rainbow Railroad
SAYiT
Stonewall Housing Association
UK Chinese Women Connect Association
Veoila – Community Project of the Year
Brightstars Autistic Club
Disability North
Kirklees Council’s Iroko Project
London Black Women’s Project (LBWP)
NatWest Social & Community Capital
The Princes Trust
The Scottish Centre for Personal Safety
The Wolfpack Project
Barratt Developments – Company of the Year
Boots
Direct Line Group
London Stock Exchange Group
National Grid
OLIVER
SThree PLC
The Lego Group
United Utilities
National Grid – Diversity Champion of the Year
Doug Butler – Reward Gateway
Emma Illingworth – SSE / OVO
Ian Donaldson – Ardonagh Retail
Karen Bosher – Greene King
Lisa Pinney – Coal Authority
Michael Müller – Form3 Financial Cloud
Mythily Katsaris – Fladgate
Sasha Covington – JLL
GSK – Diversity Team of the Year
10x Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Group
AMS – We Are Arms
Form3 Financial Cloud
National Grid
OLIVER and The Inside Ideas Group
Sidley Austin LLP
Springer Nature
UHB Fairness Taskforce
10x Banking – Head of Diversity
Karima Green – SThree PLC
Katherine Gansallo – LSEG
Katy Ingle – Bank of America
Kris Phelps – Veolia
Nikunj Upadhyay – Wates
Priscilla Baffour – TikTok
Tim Hardy-Lenik – CSG
Zaheer Ahmad – GSK
Boots UK – Hero of the Year
Barry Boffy – British Transport Police
Belton Flournoy – Proviti UK
Emma Palethorpe – St James’ Place Wealth Management
Jacquie McKenzie – Leigh Day
Kevin Humphreys – Jacobs Engineering Group Inc
Latisha McKenzie – National Grid
Sarah Healey – Disability Champion/Cabinet Office
Siena Castellon – Neurodiversity Celebration Week
Lockton LLP – Inspirational Role Model of the Year
Catherine Johnson – LSEG
Lex Shu Chan – The Business of Fashion
Pete Markey – Boots
Pips Bunce – Credit Suisse
Seetan Varsani – Corps Security
Stephanie Boyce – The Law Society
Stephen Cunningham – BT
Toyin Falade – One Housing
Marketing Campaign of the Year
Deutsche Bank – We Choose to be More
Irwin Mitchell – The Human Touch
ITV – Invisible Disabilities Campaign
Transport for London – #EveryStoryMatters
TSB – D&I Strategy
Wavemaker UK – Nationwide Building Society
Media Champion in Public Eye
Cerrie Burnell – Author. Actor. CBeebies Alumnus. Ambassador for Change.
Denise Welch – Actress, television personality, and writer
Jamie Carragher – Football legend and sports broadcaster
John Bishop – Actor, comedian and campaigner
Leigh-Anne Pinnock – Little Mix
Marcus Rashford – Professional Footballer
Rose Ayling-Ellis – Winner, Strictly Come Dancing 2021 / Eastenders
Tom Daley OBE – Olympic Diver
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust – Outstanding Employee Network of the year
Atkins – ParentNet
Aviva – Origins
BP – BP Pride
Deloitte – Multicultural Network
Hiscox – UK Parents Network
Jacobs – Prism Network
TSB – Rainbow Network
WPP – Unite
Imperial Brands – Social Mobility Initiative of the Year
Browne Jacobson
Grow Mentoring
News UK
Off The Agenda Podcast
Strive Consultants
The Bridge of Hope & Prosper 4 Group
UHB Fairness Taskforce
KPMG
Cultural Intelligence Centre – Supplier Diversity Programme of the Year
Agile One
Birmingham Hospitals Supplier Procurement Team
Boots PLC
NatWest
Resource Solutions
Standard Chartered
Diversity in Tech
10x Banking
Advanced
Cirrico
Form3 Financial Cloud
Geeks
Kantar
Playtech
Templeton & Partners
Ruebik – HR Champion of the Year
Danyelle Holmes-Lewis – BT
David Blackburn – Financial Services Compensation Scheme
Heidi Khoshtaghaza – Bellway Homes
Joanna Smith – SSE / OVO
Mark Shrimpton – Allpoints Fibre
Rachael Rogers – HG Capital
Sophie Yaxley – Playtech
Tom Lyas – Browne Johnson
