The University of Worcester has won a major national award recognising its approach to building a community where everyone can succeed.
The University was the winner of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion award at last night’s 2026 Better Society Awards.
The Awards recognise organisations who are helping create a better, more equal, ethical and sustainable world for all. Worcester was the only university shortlisted at the awards, alongside some of the Country’s biggest and most well-known companies, including Deloitte, Greene King, Octopus Energy and Santander UK.
Dr Diana Beech, Vice Chair of Governors, who collected the award on the University’s behalf, said: “It was an absolute honour to represent colleagues at the University of Worcester at the 2026 Better Society Awards ceremony and to accept the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion award on their behalf.
“Being the only university shortlisted among large companies and major household names makes this recognition even more special, and it is a real testament to the whole‑university commitment to EDI. As an independent governor and Vice Chair of the Board, I am immensely proud to be part of such an inclusive and values‑driven community, where EDI is not just an aspiration but is firmly embedded in everything we do.”
Professor David Green, the UK’s longest serving Vice Chancellor, who has led Worcester for 23 years, added: “It is a wonderful tribute to my colleagues and successive generations of student representatives that Worcester has won this award and it is a true honour to be amongst the very distinguished organisations competing for this important award.
“Championing equality, celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion are vital ingredients in a thriving, successful modern society and go in hand with helping people make as much as possible of their rich human potential through gaining higher education and sophisticated skills.”
As well as the EDI award, the University was also shortlisted for the National Commitment to Skills & Training award; Best Scheme to Encourage Staff Fundraising; and Pro Bono Company of the Year.
This is the third major award for EDI the University has won in recent years, having been the winner of the inaugural Times Higher Education Awards for EDI in 2020, and going on to win the EDI award at the Purpose Coalition’s Breaking Down Barriers Awards 2023 and the People’s Award for EDI at the Education Estates awards in 2024.
Worcester has pioneered and developed a ‘whole university approach’ to equality, diversity and inclusion, which examines every activity of the University and the way in which each activity and facility promotes inclusion and participation, whilst simultaneously contributing to educational excellence, student and graduate success.
The University is top in the country for Quality Education and joint third for Gender Equality in the 2025 Times Higher Education Global University Impact Rankings and has led the sector on fair gender pay for several years.
Described in its 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework report as “an engine of opportunity – supporting its students to benefit from an educational experience that is personally transformative and allows them to succeed in their chosen career”, the University is widely recognised as one the UK’s most inclusive. Throughout the 21st Century, more than 97% of Worcester’s students have come from state schools and currently more than 20% of students have a declared disability.