myGwork’s WorkPride scoops coveted Rainbow Honours Award at star-studded ceremony with celebrities and corporate allies

myGwork’s WorkPride conference was honored with the Global LGBTQIA+ Initiative of the Year at this year’s prestigious Bank of London Rainbow Honours Awards. The announcement was made during a star-studded ceremony held at the London Hilton on Park Lane on Friday, June 27, 2025.

Hosted annually by myGwork – the largest talent and networking platform for LGBTQ+ professionals, graduates, allies, and inclusive employers – WorkPride celebrated its sixth edition from 16–20 June, uniting thousands of professionals worldwide under the theme: “Your Allyship Journey Starts Here.”

The five-day event highlighted the critical role of visible, vocal, and active allyship in fostering safer and more inclusive work environments across industries and regions. The award is a powerful recognition of myGwork’s unwavering commitment to fostering belonging and inclusion at work.

“We are proud to win this honor,” shared myGwork co-founders Adrien and Pierre Gaubert. “It reflects not only the spirit of WorkPride but the collective effort of every speaker, participant, and ally who champions equity in the workplace.”

The Rainbow Honours celebrate changemakers from across sectors who drive progress and proudly promote LGBTQ+ equality year-round. The 2025 ceremony recognized some of the most impactful names in corporate and community inclusion, with several of myGwork’s clients and community partners among the standout winners and highly commended honorees. For example:

• Marie-Hélène Tyack of Allianz Commercial was named Corporate LGBTQIA Champion of the Year.
• Taylor Wessing’s equaliTW won Outstanding LGBTQIA+ Network (Finance, Insurance & Legal).
• LGBT Foundation was awarded Charity of the Year.
• UK Black Pride received Community Initiative of the Year.

In addition, several of myGwork’s clients were highly commended:
• James Wood of GSK – Highly Commended for Outstanding Network Lead of the Year.
• Greg Turner-Smart of Rolls-Royce SMR – Highly Commended for Inspirational Role Model of the Year.

“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and highly commended recipients,” added the Gaubert brothers. “These awards are a testament to the incredible work being done to influence systemic change and build workplaces where LGBTQ+ individuals can truly thrive. It’s an honor to support and celebrate your successes.”

In terms of celebrities, Dame Kelly Holmes, Sinitta, Mark Foster, and Dame Arlene Phillips were among the star-studded names who came out to support the event. The evening was hosted by comedian Stephen Bailey, with music from Kathy Sledge (Sister Sledge), and brought together extraordinary people and groups whose efforts significantly advance inclusion and equality for the LGBTQ+ community, spearheaded by trailblazing icon and founder of the Rainbow Honours, Linda Riley.

In the public-facing categories, actor Yasmin Finney – best known for her standout role in Heartstopper – won Celebrity LGBTQIA Champion of the Year for navigating sex and relationships as a trans woman through her character Elle. Award-winning trans advocate Ella Morgan won the prestigious Influencer of the Year award, praised for her fierce advocacy for the trans community, and Sally Lindsay won the coveted Celebrity Ally of the Year award.

The historic EastEnders wedding between Suki and Eve – marking the first lesbian wedding in the show's history – picked up the Media Moment of the Year award, received by Balvinder Sopal, who plays the role of Suki. Actress and singer-songwriter Anthony Lexa won Musician of the Year. Best known for her role as Abbi Montgomery in the British comedy-drama Sex Education, she is also an up-and-coming indie pop artist, releasing her first single in September 2023. British lawyer and former judge Victoria McCloud won the distinguished Outstanding Commitment to the LGBTQIA Community award, having made history as the UK’s first openly transgender judge.

Commenting on the awards, Founder of the Rainbow Honours Linda Riley said, “Tonight has been a particularly special evening to highlight those in our LGBTQIA community, and our allies, who consistently advocate and champion the diversity of our rainbow community. When stories of homophobia are rife across media, it's so important for us to take a stand and shine a light on the positivity in the community, and fill rooms like these with stories of hope and celebration."

2025's Rainbow Honours Awards Winners

The full list of winners and highly commended for this year's Rainbow Honours Awards, by category, include:

Celebrity LGBTQIA Champion of the Year – Sponsored by FT
• Yasmin Finney – Winner
• Cynthia Erivo – Highly Commended

Media Moment of the Year – Sponsored by HSBC Innovation Banking
• EastEnders – Suki and Eve Wedding – Winner
• Hunted – Jaxon Feeley Wins – Highly Commended

Campaigner or Influencer of the Year – Sponsored by Allianz Commercial
• Ella Morgan – Winner
• Lady Phyll – Highly Commended

Celebrity Ally of the Year – Sponsored by Paramount
• Sally Lindsay – Winner
• Dame Arlene Phillips DBE – Highly Commended

Musician of the Year – Sponsored by Denovo Legal Services
• Anthony Lexa – Winner
• Noahfinnce – Highly Commended

Community Initiative of the Year – Sponsored by Centrica
• UK Black Pride – Winner
• Trans+ History Week – Highly Commended

Charity of the Year – Sponsored by GSK
• LGBT Foundation – Winner

Outstanding LGBTQIA Network (Utilities) of the Year
• Proudly – Virgin Media O2 – Winner
• + – Centrica – Highly Commended

Outstanding LGBTQIA Network (Finance, Insurance & Legal) of the Year
• equaliTW – Taylor Wessing – Winner
• OpenAG – Addleshaw Goddard – Highly Commended

Outstanding LGBTQIA Network of the Year
• Pride – Amey – Winner
• PLUS – Sopra Steria – Winner

LGBTQIA Network Lead of the Year – Sponsored by CBRE
• Jon Hilton – Virgin Atlantic – Winner
• Bryn Jones – ViiV Healthcare & James Wood – GSK – Highly Commended

Large Brand or Organisation of the Year
• Haleon – Winner
• DHL Group – Highly Commended

Corporate Ally of the Year – Sponsored by Deutsche Bank
• Priyanka Patel – Colgate-Palmolive – Winner
• Rachael Somerset – Level – Highly Commended

Corporate LGBTQIA Champion of the Year
• Marie-Hélène Tyack – Allianz Commercial – Winner
• Motie Bring – PPRO – Highly Commended

Head of Diversity of the Year
• Ian Tomney-Bell – giffgaff – Winner
• Vijay Chohan – British Airways – Highly Commended

Inspirational Role Model of the Year
• Adelle Barker – Sky UK Ltd – Winner
• Greg Turner-Smart – Rolls-Royce SMR – Highly Commended

Outstanding Commitment to the LGBTQIA Community
• Victoria McCloud

You can check out the full short list for this year's Rainbow Honours here.