New Year Honours 2026 | The HR, DEI and people leaders recognised this year

While the headlines are understandably focusing on the gongs given to the likes of Idris Elba, Torvill & Dean and Cynthia Erivo, the 2026 New Year Honours list offers a revealing snapshot of the issues shaping the UK’s workforce agenda.

While the honours system spans everything from science and sport to the arts, this year’s list includes a notable number of individuals recognised for their work in education, skills, workforce development, inclusion and organisational leadership.

For HR professionals, it acts almost as a roll-call of the priorities that have dominated boardroom conversations over the past few years: skills shortages, social mobility, employee wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, and the growing pressure on employers to build sustainable, people-centred organisations.

From leaders shaping the future of further education to those driving employment rights, apprenticeships and inclusion policy, the honours list highlights the individuals helping to define what good people management looks like in practice.