FIVE YEARS OF IMPACT: THE ‘THAT’S BENTASTIC!’ AWARDS

Now a much-anticipated fixture in Amazon UK & Ireland’s events calendar, the That’s BENtastic! Awards have recognised over 2,000 employees for their outstanding contribution to the Black community.

Spearheaded by the operational arm of Amazon’s Black Employee Network (BEN), the campaign reflects the group’s powerful mission: to ensure its members feel Seen, Heard, and Valued.

Whether championing Black-owned businesses, mentoring future leaders, or volunteering with grassroots initiatives, the awards honour those creating real change - both within and beyond Amazon. Employees are nominated, with winners receiving up to £1,000 and an invitation to the BEN Summer Summit - an uplifting occasion that brings colleagues, families, and friends together in recognition of their efforts.

DESMOND MAXWELL ACQUAH Desmond took meaningful action to support vulnerable communities by initiating a partnership between Amazon’s Haydock sortation centre and the Manchester-based charity, Embassy Village. After visiting the organisation—which provides safe, private housing for people experiencing homelessness, including refugees—he identified ways the site could offer further support beyond a financial contribution. His proposal led to a £2,000 donation, but more importantly, it sparked an ongoing collaboration focused on helping Embassy Village residents access employment opportunities through Amazon.

On being recognised by the That’s BENtastic! Awards, Desmond reflects, “My philosophy is to treat others as you’d like to be treated. If something brings you joy, strive to bring the same to others. When people feel happy and at ease, they’re more likely to seek help and perform at their best. You never know who’s inspired by you, so keep smiling.

SILVAIN DJOMO Another inspiring BENtastic! Award recipient is Silvain, whose journey from asylum seeker to community leader exemplifies resilience, purpose, and service.

“As someone who was an asylum seeker, I’m grateful to be in a position to now be one of the people helping the Black community to grow”, he shares. “It is important to me that I make a positive impact with my community and empower the people around me. I am glad Amazon has given me the opportunity to share and celebrate my work through the That’s BENtastic! Awards, and I hope it inspires other people to do the same.”

Silvain was nominated for his outstanding work supporting refugees in Plymouth as they integrate into the local community. Outside of his role at Amazon, he organises a wide range of events designed to support, educate, and uplift Black residents—from swimming lessons and networking events to helping individuals apply for their provisional driving licences.

By the time Silvain was recognised with a 2023 BENtastic! Award, he had directly supported over 40 individuals—efforts that caught the attention of the local Mayor, who met with him to discuss how his work could be scaled across the city.

Below, we spotlight a few of the incredible individuals whose stories reflect the spirit and impact of the That’s BENtastic! Awards:

AS THE NETWORK PROUDLY CELEBRATES ITS FIFTH ANNIVERSARY, THESE AWARDS EXEMPLIFY HOW MEANINGFUL RECOGNITION, GENUINE ADVOCACY, AND STRONG COMMUNITY BONDS CAN DRIVE LASTING, POSITIVE CHANGE ACROSS AN ORGANISATION.

MEDHANE ZERIGABIR OGBAGEBRIEL

Also recognised with a BENtastic! Award in 2023 is Medhane, whose dedication to community building and inclusive support is both heartfelt and far-reaching.

“We’ve created a group to support families with children who have autism by organising monthly recreational activities and tours”, he explains. “By the time of the 2023 BENtastic! Awards, we had brought together around 16 families—supporting up to 20 children in total. Some families had one child with autism, others had two. While a few families were still unconnected, we were actively working to include them. The joy these children and their families experienced during our events was immeasurable, and we’re always open to feedback to help us grow and improve.”

Medhane’s impact extends well beyond these activities. Each week, he also supports fellow Amazonians by translating internal news and providing guidance on grammar and disciplinary writing—ensuring that communication is clear, inclusive, and empowering.

“Communication and the sharing of thoughts are invaluable” he says. “Amazon truly stands out for its openness to ideas and opportunities that benefit its people.”

He also expresses deep appreciation for the That’s BENtastic! programme itself: “Special thanks to the curators of the awards for their tireless efforts in making this programme a success. It connects participants with experts and professionals, fosters confidence, and helps people overcome challenges. This initiative creates better paths for growth and self-improvement—and I deeply respect its mission.”

Medhane closes with a message of gratitude and unity: “Above all, I want to thank everyone working so hard to make this initiative thrive. By listening respectfully and humbly, there’s nothing we can’t achieve. Let’s continue working together to bring joy and meaningful support to families in need”

JENNIFER OPOKU-MENSAH A 2024 BENtastic! Award winner, Jennifer exemplifies advocacy in action—using her voice and influence to open doors for others. This commitment to championing colleagues earned her the campaign’s highest number of nominations ever for a single leader.

“One of my proudest achievements since winning BENtastic! was supporting Kristos, an associate with remarkable skills in data analysis and automation,” she shares. “Recognising his potential, I introduced his work to our General Manager, John, who was impressed by the tools Kristos had developed to support inbound stow and receive operations.”

That simple act of recognition sparked a transformative journey. Leadership transitioned Kristos from Operations into the Reliability, Maintenance, and Engineering (RME) team in Dartford, where he continued to build innovative tools with significant impact. His growth in the role eventually led to his promotion to a Data Analyst position at Amazon’s London Headquarters.

“Witnessing Kristos’ journey has been deeply rewarding,” Jennifer reflects. “It’s a powerful reminder that advocating for others can lead to real, meaningful change.”

For Jennifer, supporting Kristos is just one example of a broader mission: to uplift, mentor, and create opportunities for those around her. “Helping others achieve their goals is a legacy I am proud to carry forward,” she adds. “It’s about more than recognition—it’s about building a community where everyone can thrive.”

“ Communication and the sharing of gifts are invaluable.”

BYRON TAYLOR: THE FIRST EVER THAT’S BENTASTIC! AWARDS WINNER

As the inaugural recipient of the That’s BENtastic! Award, Byron Taylor has witnessed firsthand the programme’s transformative power—not just for ndividuals, but for entire communities.

“When I won the first award, I knew it would bring significant attention,” he recalls. “We didn’t underestimate the impact of the publicity and networking opportunities that followed. I hoped it would help us gain additional support to grow—and I’m proud to say that prediction has come true.

Since then, Settlement Support CIC has benefitted tremendously from the exposure the award brought. It elevated our organisation’s credibility, enabling us to build strategic partnerships and launch impactful community initiatives.

Our Donations Project began with pallets sourced from my site in Coventry, providing essential supplies to vulnerable migrants. This was followed by a Digital Inclusion Programme, highlighted by Coventry City Council, which supports individuals in gaining access to devices and basic digital skills. We also launched ESOL and Digital Skills Training to empower migrants from non-English-speaking backgrounds.

To promote health and physical activity among migrants, we introduced the Community Walks and Cycling Project. In partnership with the City Council’s Public Health Team, we also implemented the Health Alert for Migrants project, spreading vital health messages to migrant communities.

We held Sports for Social Integration events to bring communities together through physical activity. During Black History Month, we hosted the Minority Youth Expo in partnership with Coventry University, which was a tremendous success.

Our Skills Development Project continues to offer vocational and career-enhancing opportunities for community members. We are also collaborating with the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner on the ‘My Community, Our Future’ project. As part of this, we worked with the BHX4 Black Employee Network to celebrate Africa Day.

The £1,000 prize that came with the That’s BENtastic! Award was invaluable during a pivotal time in our organisation’s growth. Alongside the initial £1,000 funding from the site, this support underscores the reality that Settlement Support CIC has grown with strong ties to Amazon. Beyond myself as the founder, the majority of our leadership, youth champions, and volunteers are current or former Amazonians.

Our key partners include Coventry City Council (Public Health Team and CovConnects Team), Coventry University, West Midlands Combined Authority, West Midlands Cycling and Walking, National Lottery Community Fund, Action Family Network, The Mason Foundation – The Community Mile, and Sustrans.

While we continue to seek support and partnerships to sustain our growth, Clearly, the That’s BENtastic! Awards—alongside Amazon’s inclusive culture— have played a pivotal role on the birth and development of Settlement Support CIC—and on the community it serves.”

“THE BENTASTIC AWARDS ELEVATED OUR ORGANISATION’S CREDIBILITY, WHICH WE HAVE USED POSITIVELY TO BUILD STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND LAUNCH IMPACTFUL COMMUNITY INITIATIVES.”

“The BENtastic Awards and Amazon’s DEI culture can be identified as making the greatest impact in the birth and growth of the SSCIC and how it is impacting the community.”

“The £1,000 prize proved invaluable during a pivotal time in the organisation’s growth.”