Double success at the 2026 Educate North Awards

Leeds Beckett University Business School is celebrating a double success at the 2026 Educate North Awards, after the #WECAN Programme won the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Award and a Highly Commended recognition for the Student Experience Award.  

Also celebrating student, Charlie Allen on receiving an award nomination, recognising this as an excellent and well-deserved achievement.

The awards recognise excellence and innovation across the education sector in the North of England, celebrating institutions and initiatives that are making a meaningful impact on students, communities and industry partners.

The award-winning #WECAN Programme was praised by judges for its “exceptional reach and sustainable, reinvestment-led model” that addresses structural gender inequities in leadership and enterprise. Judges also highlighted the programme’s strong regional impact and successful partnerships in widening access to development and economic opportunity for women, commending the inclusive growth, noting how #WECAN is “reshaping leadership pipelines and driving long-term, systemic change”.

Professor George Lodorfos, Dean of Leeds Business School, says, "Winning the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Award for the #WECAN Programme is a testament to the passion and commitment of everyone involved in creating opportunities, built on strong partnerships and innovative approaches to tackling socio-economic challenges across our region.

“To also be Highly Commended in the Student Experience category demonstrates our continued focus on supporting and empowering our students to succeed. These achievements reflect the strength of our partnerships, our values and the outstanding work taking place across the Business School.”

The celebrations followed a successful awards evening, with colleagues from across the Business School coming together to recognise the achievements of nominees, finalists and winners from across the sector.