Since its inception in 2013, National Inclusion Week® has grown from a small campaign into the UK’s largest inclusion celebration, reaching millions of people and transforming how organisations approach workplace inclusion.
Each year’s theme tells a story of evolving understanding, from initial awareness-building to today’s urgent call for strategic action. As we prepare for National Inclusion Week® 2025 with the theme “Now is the Time”, it’s worth reflecting on this remarkable journey and what it reveals about inclusion’s changing role in the workplace.
Make your National Inclusion Week® easy
With the Supporters Toolkit you access professional-quality resources that take away the guess work and boost your impact. The toolkit contains:
- A ready-to-use NIW quiz, conversation starter guide and inclusion bingo game
- A daily focus planner with activity ideas to spark meaningful engagement
- A short video to introduce the theme and energise your organisation
- Comms pack: printable posters, social media frames and guidance
- An influencing for change action plan
The early years: building awareness (2013-2016)
National Inclusion Week® launched with “Think Differently” in 2013, encouraging people to reframe their thinking and consider diverse perspectives. This foundational theme set the stage for everything that followed.
2014’s “Be yourself, be the best you can be” remains remarkably relevant today. The focus on creating workplaces where employees feel equipped and empowered to be their authentic selves continues to drive inclusion strategies across organisations.
“It Can Be You…” in 2015 shifted attention to individual action, emphasising that any small change – from recognising unconscious bias to showing allyship – can make a significant difference.
The period culminated with “Everyday Inclusion” in 2016, introducing a concept that would become central to Inclusive Employers’ DNA. This theme recognised that sustainable inclusion isn’t created through one-off initiatives but through consistent, daily practices embedded in organisational culture.
Growing connection and understanding (2017-2020)
As inclusion awareness matured, themes began emphasising connection and conscious choice.
“Connect for Inclusion” (2017) invited workplaces and individuals to build bridges in the name of inclusion, whilst “Everyday Inclusion” returned in 2018 – its importance warranting a second focus.
“Choose to Include” (2019) marked a pivotal shift towards intentional action. This theme recognised that equity and inclusion require conscious decisions at both organisational and individual levels, whether through supporting communities, practising allyship, or committing to ongoing learning.
“Each One, Reach One” (2020) emphasised storytelling and shared experiences, recognising that authentic inclusion stories have power to educate and inspire others.
The action era: from commitment to impact (2021-2024)
Recent themes reflect inclusion’s evolution from nice-to-have to business imperative, with increasing emphasis on measurable action and results.
“United for Inclusion” (2021) brought together thousands of organisations, demonstrating inclusion’s power to unite diverse voices around shared purpose.
“Time to Act, The Power of Now” (2022) marked a decisive shift towards urgency, recognising that inclusion cannot wait for perfect conditions or future promises.
This momentum continued with “Take Action Make Impact” (2023), which emphasised that organisations don’t need perfection to begin practising inclusion – they just need to start somewhere and learn through action.
“Impact Matters” (2024) challenged organisations to move beyond good intentions to measurable outcomes, using data to inform strategy and considering long-term benefits alongside potential unintended consequences.
Engage your teams and leaders
Our National Inclusion Week® webinars and leadership sessions are ready-made to spark action and conversation across your organisation. Choose from:
- Two exclusive leadership sessions designed for senior teams
- Six different topics for organisation wide webinars for up to 1,000 attendees
- Practical content aligned with the 2025 theme: Now is the Time
- Interactive formats that inspire reflection and action
- Easy booking and flexible delivery
2025: ‘Now is the Time’
This year’s theme represents the culmination of over a decade of inclusion evolution. “Now is the Time” acknowledges that inclusion faces unprecedented challenges whilst demanding urgent, strategic action.
With increasing global backlash against EDI efforts, economic pressures, and tightening budgets, inclusion professionals must innovate to maximise impact. The theme emphasises:
- Proving inclusion’s value through concrete business outcomes.
- Creative approaches that sustain momentum despite challenging conditions.
- Centring lived experiences through authentic storytelling.
- Challenging narratives that seek to divide rather than unite.
- Embedding inclusion deeply into organisational decision-making and culture.
What the evolution reveals
The progression of National Inclusion Week® themes mirrors the broader maturation of workplace inclusion:
- From awareness to action: Early themes focused on changing mindsets and building understanding. Recent themes demand concrete action and measurable impact.
- From individual to systemic: While personal responsibility remains important, themes increasingly emphasise organisational systems, policies, and strategic approaches.
- From optional to essential: Inclusion has evolved from a moral imperative to a business necessity, reflected in themes that connect inclusion directly to organisational success.
- From simple to sophisticated: As understanding has deepened, themes address increasingly complex challenges like measuring impact, addressing backlash, and sustaining momentum through difficult periods.
The current moment
Today’s inclusion landscape is more complex than when National Inclusion Week® began. Organisations face genuine scrutiny of their EDI efforts whilst navigating economic pressures and polarised political climates. Yet this complexity makes inclusion more important, not less.
The evolution from “Think Differently” to “Now is the Time” reflects not just changing themes but fundamental shifts in how we understand and practice inclusion. We’ve moved from asking people to consider different perspectives to demanding they take concrete action that drives measurable change.
Looking ahead
As we prepare for National Inclusion Week® 2025, the theme “Now is the Time” serves as both rallying cry and strategic imperative. It builds on thirteen years of learning whilst acknowledging current realities that make inclusion work more challenging – and more essential – than ever.
The organisations that thrive will be those that use this year’s National Inclusion Week® not just to raise awareness but to build genuine capabilities, create systemic changes, and demonstrate measurable impact.
Because after more than a decade of evolution, awareness alone is no longer sufficient. Now is the Time for transformation.
Ready to make National Inclusion Week® 2025 your most impactful yet? Our comprehensive range of webinars, leadership development programmes, and speaker sessions helps organisations move beyond awareness to create lasting inclusion capabilities.
From everyday inclusion to strategic transformation – we’re here to support your journey every step of the way.