The Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) has launched its 2025 Business Awards 2025, which will include a new diversity champion category, in partnership with Women On Tap CIC.
The new award celebrates independent breweries who have made equity, diversity, and inclusivity a central part of their business, be that with a focus on gender, sexual orientation, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic background, disability, neurodiversity, or age.
The winner will need to demonstrate an authentic commitment to creating a diverse workplace, alongside tangible positive outcomes for their business and team.
Judges will especially be looking for schemes, policies, campaigns, or other initiatives that can inspire the wider industry to follow suit.
“Recent industry research from SIBA and other sources has evidenced the lack of progress in making the UK beer industry more diverse,” said Women on Tap’s Rachel Auty, who is joining the SIBA Business Awards judging panel.
“We have to keep this subject front and centre, and we are incredibly grateful to SIBA for introducing this award and inviting us to be a partner. We urge the industry to make a renewed commitment to creating workplaces and experiences where everyone can thrive.
“At Women On Tap, we focus on gender equality, and we want to see more women working in beer at all levels, especially in brewing and leadership, as well as more women choosing and enjoying beer socially.”
More about the awards
Neil Walker, chair of judges for the awards, added: “SIBA are delighted to be working with Women On Tap to launch the new diversity champion of the year award.
“Rachel’s knowledge and expertise was absolutely invaluable in the creation of this award, which seeks to highlight breweries who show a real commitment to promoting equity, diversity and inclusivity.”
Another change for 2025 is the renaming of the empowering people award, which will be known as the employer of the year award.
The SIBA Business Awards 2025 will be judged by a panel of industry experts and presented at BeerX UK, in Liverpool, in March. For more information about the awards, visit www.siba.co.uk/businessawards.
