Boots UK and No7 Beauty Company has been named as winners in the inaugural Menopause Friendly Employer Awards. 

Boots and No7 scooped up the award for Best Engagement Campaign. They were also named finalists in the Best Support Group category. 

Organised by Menopause Friendly and supported by the CIPD, the inaugural Menopause Friendly Employer Awards attracted over 85 entries across 10 categories. Winners were announced at the awards ceremony at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in London, hosted by Louise Minchin. 

Ben Horner, HR Director, said: “I’m delighted that Boots has been named winners of Best Engagement Campaign. We are grateful to Menopause Friendly this brilliant award recognising our committed work in helping to break the taboos surrounding the menopause.

"We are also proud sponsors of the Menopause Friendly Awards. This is an extension of our long-standing commitment to our team members and our customers at all stages of life. Achieving Menopause Friendly Accreditation ourselves was an important milestone in the work we’re doing to support an inclusive and open workplace culture, and that includes the menopause.” 

Boots and No7 were nominated for:

• Best Engagement Campaign – Boots and No7 won for creating a campaign that has ignited changing perceptions of menopause in the workplace through creativity, making it a normal conversation.
• Best Support Group – Boots and No7 named finalists. This award celebrates the organisation that has created the best community group, ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for conversations around menopause in the workplace.

This year, Boots has made strides in the menopause space, introducing multiple initiatives including subsidising the cost of all prescription HRT medicines for Boots team members, as well as recently launching Gina -- the first ever over-the-counter HRT medicine available on consultation with a pharmacist. Boots and No7 also became the first health and beauty retailer to earn an accreditation from Menopause Friendly's independent panel. 

Chris Pitt, CEO of First Direct and judge in the awards said: “In terms of reach, evaluation and impact, the campaign produced by Boots gained incredibly positive results. It is particularly heartening and inspiring to see a company which is so prepared to listen to its workforce and work with them to create an atmosphere and culture which is so open and supportive.  Boots is a very worthy winner.”