Co-Founders receive Inclusivity Award at IoD Awards

Last night, GSC's Co-Founders SARAH GOBRAN and MATT PINCHES won the INCLUSIVITY AWARD for the 2019 IoD London & South Director of the Year Awards and have automatically entered the 2019 National Director of the year Awards UK finals in October.

Established in 2006, Guildford Shakespeare Company has grown to become one of the largest producers of theatre in the region. As well as producing 41 homegrown professional theatre productions, the original Co-Founders have expanded the company’s output with an Education department that in the last year engaged with some 5000 people, young and old, and in particular those from less privileged backgrounds.

The Co-Founders found out about the win, moments after they stepped off stage in the theatre company’s current open-air production of Twelfth Night. On receiving the award Sarah said:

“This particular category is very important to us. A large part of GSC’s ethos is to champion those in our community who may not have access to the arts, whilst providing opportunities for those who are living with a disability, who experience social exclusion or are dealing with mental health issues. This award honours the work of the entire GSC team and we’re very grateful to them for their incredible work… and to have an arts organisation to be recognised at this level is the icing on the cake.”

The finalists were chosen from the hundreds of directors that entered or were nominated across twelve different categories.  When announcing GSC as winners, the following testimonial was read out:

“The winner of this category is working extremely hard along with adapting and shifting not only in one area but from a perspective of race, sexuality, disability, mental health; the possibilities for this winner seem relatively endless at this point. The work being delivered is changing people’s lives. A clear winner!”

The expert judging panel decided the overall winners which were announced at the awards ceremony on Thursday 20 June 2019 at the iconic 116 Pall Mall, the home of the Institute of Directors. Louise Minchin, journalist and BBC news presenter hosted the ceremony alongside Roger Tilling, best known as The Voice of University Challenge.

David Stringer-Lamarre, IoD London Chair said that:

This year's IoD Director of the Year Awards, London & South Regions, provided an insight into the incredibly talented and diverse leaders that are helping to power forward their organisations in this dynamic part of the UK. The nominees and winners shared valuable insights into what makes an organisation, innovate, deliver value and succeed. I am very pleased to have such talented people in the London & South Regions.”

Visit https://www.iodawards.com/london-south/the-london--south-2019-winners for a full list of winners and details on how to attend the 2019 finals.

The winners from each of the categories will be automatically entered into the UK finals of the IoD Director of the Year Awards, providing the winners with additional exposure and profile on a national stage as the ‘best of the best’ in British business.

The 2019 IoD Director of the Year Awards will take place at The Brewery, London, on the 18 October. For further details visit www.iodawards.com

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