Tosin Agbele from the Amazon fulfilment centre in Sutton Coldfield was nominated for the award by his colleagues for supporting Black and Ethnic minority colleagues by openly sharing the experience of working at Amazon while managing diabetes.

Understanding how difficult it can be for people from minority backgrounds to speak up about their health, Tosin uses one-to-one conversations to guide colleagues facing similar challenges, raise awareness of managing diabetes at work, and encourage others to prioritise their wellbeing while still performing their roles effectively. 

Judges noted the clear impact of Tosin’s work over the past year – stating that colleagues, particularly those from Black and Ethnic minority backgrounds, feel more comfortable and confident to speak up.

By being open about his own condition, Tosin helped others realise they are not alone and that it is okay to talk about their own challenges.

Now in their fifth year, the awards recognise and reward employees who have made a significant contribution to their community over the past 12 months - whether by uplifting others, creating positive change, or having a lasting impact on the people around them.

Fatai Sulaiman, president of BEN UK Ops, added: “Five years on, the That’s BENtastic! awards exist to recognise the incredible work Amazon employees like Tosin have within Black and Ethnic minority communities, both in the workplace and beyond. 

“I’m proud to recognise Tosin’s efforts to support those around him with this award.

“He is an incredibly valued member of the Amazon Sutton Coldfield team, and his work has a real impact on the lives of many people in our community.”

The Black Employee Network (BEN UK & IE) is an employee resource group at Amazon, open to Black employees and allies.

Their mission at Amazon is to recruit, retain, and empower Black employees and allies across the business.

BEN UK Ops is a branch of the network specifically for employees in the operational arm of Amazon's business.

Through BEN UK Ops, employees have access to resources, networking opportunities and engaging initiatives to support their personal and professional growth.

Amazon has 13 employee-led groups which play an important role in bringing Amazon employees from across the business together and creating a sense of community globally while encouraging inclusivity and diversity. 

These groups include BEN, Glamazon, Asians at Amazon, and Women at Amazon.

To find out more about diversity at Amazon, visit About Amazon.