The New Year’s Honours List 2020, published on Saturday 28 December, recognises the outstanding achievements of people across the United Kingdom, including people from BAME community that includes 9.1% of the total 1097 people awarded.
The List celebrates a range of extraordinary young people across the UK. MBEs are awarded to: 25 year old Yusuf Patel for his work in tackling extremism in London. BEM has been received by13 year old Ibrahim Yousaf, the youngest person on the list, for his charity work in Greater Manchester.
Over half of the recipients in the New Year’s Honours List 2020 are women, including 44% of awards at the highest levels. The List includes leaders and pioneers from all fields.
To mark the start of the World Health Organisation’s ‘Year of the Nurse and Midwife’ in 2020, twelve nurses and five midwives who have dedicated their lives to helping others and improving healthcare in the UK receive honours at OBE, MBE and BEM level.
Singer-songwriter and activist Sir Elton John and historian Sir Keith Thomas both become Companions of Honour. There are damehoods for entertainer and charitable fundraiser Olivia Newton-John and broadcaster and campaigner Baroness Floella Benjamin.There is a knighthood for film and theatre director Sam Mendes.
Following a memorable year for British sport, a number of individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to sport in the UK are honoured - both at the grassroots and professional level. This list celebrates a high number of sportswomen, including a damehood for Director of Women’s Football at the FA Sue Campbell.
Once again, this Honours List also includes inspirational people who have dedicated their lives to Holocaust and genocide remembrance and education, sharing their stories with schoolchildren around the UK. As survivors, they have demonstrated extraordinary personal resilience and commitment, championing tolerance and diversity, and playing a vital role in ensuring future generations continue to learn from the past.
In total 1,097 people have received an award:
- 941 candidates have been selected at BEM, MBE and OBE level:
- 315 at BEM
- 397at MBE
- 229at OBE
- 789 (72%) of the recipients are people who have undertaken outstanding work in their communities either in a voluntary or paid capacity;
- 556 women are recognised in the List, representing 51% of the total;
- 9.1% of the successful candidates come from a BAME background;
- 11% of the successful candidates consider themselves to have a disability (under the Equality Act 2010);
- 3.3% of recipients identified as being LGBT+
- In total, 72% of awards in the New Year Honours List 2020 go to people who have undertaken outstanding work in or for their local community.
- Around 8.7% of awards are for work in education.
- Industry and the economy make up 12.3% of this Honours List. The independent Economy Honours Committee continued to highlight entrepreneurs, emerging sectors and those who have made striking interventions in established sectors across the UK.
- Around 14.6% of honours are for work in the Science, Technology and Health sectors.
