Inclusive Innovation  

On 6th March 2025, the Northern PoWEr Women Awards will once again shine a spotlight on the trailblazers, changemakers, and pioneers driving progress across the North. As one of the most prestigious celebrations of gender equality and innovation, the awards recognise those making a lasting impact in their industries and communities. This year, we’ve partnered with Catapult to bring you the Inclusive Innovation category. This award recognises the groups, teams, services, products, and organisations that are harnessing innovation to accelerate equality, social inclusion, and diversity. Whether by developing groundbreaking technology, pioneering inclusive policies, or driving community-led initiatives, these nominees are proving that when innovation is built with inclusivity at its core, it creates lasting benefits for all. Our 2024 winner was the National Institute for Health & Care Research, commending its mission to change lives through world-class research. Here’s a round up of this year’s nominated innovators. 

Here’s a rundown of the 2025 Finalists 

People Focused 

Dotty About Braille 

Dotty About Braille is redefining accessibility, making braille more mainstream and empowering visually impaired individuals. Founded in May 2023 by Hayley Kellard, a visually impaired entrepreneur, the company creates unique braille greeting cards designed with accessibility at the forefront, featuring only braille, no printed text, and colour labels in braille for a truly independent experience. Beyond cards, Dotty About Braille offers multilingual braille services and free educational resources to promote braille awareness. Hayley’s advocacy extends to supporting disabled entrepreneurs through The Lilac Review, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity remain central in business and society. 

Girls On The Go 

Girls on the Go is revolutionising wellness and social connection for women through inclusive innovation. Launched in September 2023, the organisation combats loneliness by blending physical activities, creative workshops, and social events into a holistic community experience. Their four-pillar ethos, Accessibility, Safety, Community, and Affordability, ensures that all women, regardless of background, can participate in a welcoming and empowering space. With a data-driven approach, innovative engagement tools like 'friendship bingo cards,' and a strong digital presence of nearly 100,000 followers, Girls on the Go has rapidly expanded from Liverpool to Manchester and Birmingham. Raising nearly £40,000 for local charities, they’re not just fostering friendships, they’re  building a movement for women's wellness and connection. 

Smart Works Leeds 

Smart Works Leeds is redefining support for women in the workforce by breaking down barriers to employment and fostering confidence. Established in 2019, the organisation offers personalised coaching, high-quality interview clothing, and ongoing mentorship, ensuring women from all backgrounds have the tools they need to succeed. Their flexible approach, offering both in-person and virtual services, makes their support accessible to those facing mobility, financial, or caregiving challenges. With a dedicated team, passionate volunteers, and strong community partnerships, Smart Works Leeds is transforming lives, not just by helping women secure jobs but by empowering them to build sustainable careers and a brighter future. 

Claire O’Connor 

Claire O’Connor, alongside her mother Barbara Peters, has transformed babyballet into a globally recognised programme that champions accessibility and inclusivity in dance. Since launching in 1999, their vision has grown into an award-winning franchise, teaching over 25,000 children weekly across the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. Claire’s leadership and dedication to making ballet fun and welcoming for all children, regardless of background or ability, has redefined traditional dance education. By empowering a network of franchisees, many of whom are women, she has created opportunities for business ownership while ensuring thousands of children experience the joy of movement in an inclusive and nurturing environment. 

House of Books & Friends  

House of Books & Friends is a Manchester based pioneering social enterprise that tackles loneliness through the power of literature and community. Founded by Darryl Cooke, it reimagines the traditional bookshop as an inclusive hub where people can connect through reading groups, events, and shared experiences. With an adjoining café designed to encourage social interaction, the space fosters a sense of belonging for individuals at risk of isolation. Every purchase supports not-for-profit initiatives addressing loneliness, extending its impact beyond the shop’s walls. Rooted in the gunnercooke foundation’s mission to “Do Good, Faster,” this innovative approach demonstrates how books and community engagement can drive meaningful social inclusion. 

Tech For Good 

Capslock Education Ltd 

Capslock Education Ltd is revolutionising cyber security training by breaking down barriers for underrepresented groups, particularly women, seeking to reskill and enter the industry. Their fully remote, team-based, and problem-solving approach ensures accessibility, allowing learners to balance training with caregiving or work commitments. By leveraging technology, Capslock removes traditional obstacles such as funding limitations and lack of confidence in technical skills, creating an inclusive pathway into cyber security. With over 900 graduates, a 94% retention rate, and a learner base significantly more diverse than industry averages, Capslock is not only transforming individual careers but also driving lasting change in diversity and inclusion within cyber security. 

Maxwellia Limited  

Maxwellia Limited is transforming healthcare accessibility through inclusive innovation, pioneering the process of ‘switching’, making prescription-only medicines available over the counter. As the only UK company dedicated to this approach, Maxwellia is tackling the gender health gap by empowering women to manage their reproductive and menstrual health without unnecessary barriers. With groundbreaking products like Lovima® (an over-the-counter contraceptive pill), LoviOne® (an affordable emergency contraceptive), and Evana® (the first OTC medicine for heavy periods), Maxwellia is ensuring that women's health needs are prioritised. By collaborating with female-focused organisations and challenging industry norms, Maxwellia is redefining access to essential medicines and driving meaningful change in healthcare inclusivity. 

ND Axon 

ND Axon is revolutionising neurodivergent diagnosis and workplace inclusion through cutting-edge, passive detection technology that eliminates reliance on outdated, form-based assessments. By removing human error and reducing diagnostic wait times, ND Axon ensures an accurate, intersectionality-focused approach that prioritises accessibility and equity. Their innovative Employment Passport tool goes beyond diagnosis, equipping employers with personalised guidance to create inclusive work environments. By combining intelligent technology with real-world application, ND Axon is setting a new standard for neurodivergent support, making inclusion not just possible, but seamless. 

Nite Light CIC 

Nite Light CIC was founded in April 2020 to revolutionise support for homeless individuals by addressing gaps in existing services. Traditional donation methods often left people without choice or essential hygiene products, while well-meaning gestures, like multiple unwanted cups of coffee, highlighted inefficiencies in giving. To change this, Nite Light introduced a pioneering ‘pay forward’ system, distributing plastic debit-style cards that allow individuals to access food and drinks at a time of their choosing. This cashless aid model has significantly reduced street begging while fostering a stronger sense of community between donors, recipients, and local organisations. Through innovative and dignified support, Nite Light is reshaping homelessness aid with real, lasting impact. 

Digital Advantage  

Digital Advantage is redefining digital education by equipping underrepresented young people, particularly neurodiverse individuals and those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with the skills, confidence, and opportunities needed to thrive in the digital economy. Their hands-on, industry-led approach breaks down barriers to employment, offering practical training in coding, content creation, and digital marketing. Through initiatives like "DigiBury," they create inclusive learning environments tailored to diverse needs, ensuring equal access to digital careers. With over 5,000 participants to date and 78% progressing into further education or employment, Digital Advantage is not only closing the digital divide but also driving long-term social mobility and inclusion in the tech industry. 

Digital Voice for Communities  

Digital Voice for Communities is revolutionising digital inclusion by harnessing AI to empower vulnerable and digitally excluded individuals across the North East. Their pioneering programmes, such as DigitalMe and DreamIt, enable people to share their stories safely, challenge societal barriers, and develop vital digital skills. By integrating AI, they enhance digital storytelling, anonymise voices while preserving accents, and inspire young people, particularly girls, to explore future careers in tech. Their work not only fosters creativity and confidence but also ensures those facing exclusion can harness cutting-edge technology to shape their futures, embodying true innovation and inclusion.