Forward Carers has been named as a finalist in the Best Small Employer Category sponsored by BreatheHR of the Working Families Best Practice Awards.
The awards celebrate employers who are setting the standard for flexible, people-first working cultures where everyone can thrive.
Now in their seventeenth year, Working Families’ Best Practice Awards showcase and celebrate employers who are offering flexibility for all their people and going above and beyond in their support for parents and Carers.
Forward Carers has been shortlisted for Best Small Employer because of its commitment to flexible, inclusive, and wellbeing-focused ways of working.
Key initiatives include the introduction of the organisation’s Smart Working Week, paid Carers leave, flexible working opportunities for all staff, and wider practices designed to support colleagues balancing work with caring and family responsibilities.
Forward Carers is also proud to be recognised as an Age Friendly Employer and to champion unpaid Carer friendly and family friendly employment practices across the organisation.
Anna Smith, Executive Manager at Forward Carers said:
“We aim to create a culture where people can thrive both professionally and personally. We were particularly pleased that the application was encouraged by staff themselves, following the strong positive feedback received through our staff survey responses.
We’re absolutely delighted to have been shortlisted and incredibly proud of the team and culture we’ve built together. This recognition reflects our belief that supporting staff wellbeing, flexibility, and inclusion is not separate from organisational success and growth – it is a fundamental part of achieving it well.”
Jane van Zyl, Chief Executive of Working Families said:
“Every year, the Best Practice Awards reminds us that putting people first is not a compromise but a commitment that pays dividends for everyone. A huge congratulations to each of our finalists, who have all made a deliberate choice to do things differently, with results that speak for themselves.
This year’s finalists have raised the bar again, demonstrating that flexibility, inclusion and support for working families are not obstacles to success but the foundations that make it sustainable. There is still a lot to do before every working parent and carer gets the support they deserve. But these employers represent the future of work, and I am proud to celebrate their commitment and inspired by what their example means for the thousands of working families who benefit from it every day.”
Employers from a diverse range of sectors from across the UK have competed to catch the judges’ attention in nine categories.
The winners will be announced at an awards event on 30 June 2026.
About Working Families
Working Families is a charity on a mission to remove the barriers that people with caring responsibilities face in the workplace.
They provide free legal advice to parents and carers on their rights at work.
They give employers the tools they need to support their employees while creating a flexible, high-performing workforce, and they advocate on behalf of the UK’s working parents and carers, influencing policy through campaigns informed by ground-breaking research.
