"Your achievements deserve to be seen": our previous winners on why you should apply for WRA26

The Women’s Recognition Awards (WRAs) is still open for nominations, and we’re looking for all the outstanding women and allies who are pushing the industry into the future.

If you’ve been thinking of nominating, or if someone has nominated you, here’s an insight into what the WRA experience is like, the impact it can have, and some words of encouragement from some of our previous winners.

“It meant a huge amount to me, to be able to be with such a fantastic community of amazing and impactful women last year,” says Elizabeth Blakelock, Woman in Fintech 2025.

“I’d love to see many more women celebrated in this way, and I hope you will be putting a nomination forward too,” she adds.

“The Women’s Recognition Awards are a huge part of what we’re trying to do to make this industry inclusive to everybody,” Rachel Geddes, Woman in the Mortgage Industry 2024, “future women can feel comfortable and confident to be the most successful that they can be.

“Keep on cheering, keep on being yourselves, and let’s really make a difference!”

Siobhan Moran, EDI: Best Leadership 2025, described winning this award as “such an honour […] and really, really humbling.”

“If you are thinking about applying for one of the Women’s Recognition Awards this year, go ahead and do it!

“This is an opportunity to showcase all the work you’ve been doing, the change you’ve made within your teams, to your customers, and you might just influence the next wave of progress while you’re at it.”

Charlotte Rutter from Roma Finance, EDI: Best Employee Support 2025, says that “winning the Women’s Recognition Awards was such a powerful moment, it has been for every single one that we’ve done so far,” adding that the WRAs “give you the opportunity to pause, to celebrate what you’ve actually done, and see that it’s been worthwhile.

“If you’re looking at applying this year, I highly recommend it. Go for it! Your achievements deserve to be seen.”

Rachel Eason-Whale from L&C Mortgages says that “it was more than just a trophy to us,” when L&C took home the award for Equality Employer of the Year 2025.

“It was recognition of the work that people put in every day in the workplace to make sure colleagues feel seen, supported, and they’re able to belong,” Rachel explains. “For us, equality isn’t just one initiative or one moment, it’s about those everyday decisions, conversations that help create fairness, opportunity and inclusion across the business.

“What made this award really meaningful was that it reflected the voices, the ideas that come from all colleagues, whether it’s from our leadership team, whether it’s from the We Belong community, or just everyone moving inclusion forward.

“That’s why we’re really proud to be supporting the Women’s Recognition Awards again this year as headline sponsor, and I really encourage you to get out there and nominate people and businesses really making a difference.”

Finally, Rachael Hunnisett, Woman in the Mortgage Industry 2025, describes winning as “such a special moment.” 

“If you are thinking about applying for this year’s Women’s Recognition Awards, please just do it, don’t talk yourself out of it!

“These awards shine a light on so many incredible women doing brilliant things across the industry, and you deserve to be recognised for the incredible work that you do.

“Good luck!”