Released 4 September 2025

Steve Smith has been recognised as a winner of the inaugural Forbes Trailblazers Awards 2025, which celebrates the individuals and organisations driving meaningful, positive change across the UK.

Steve was selected as one of five overall winners in the Business Pioneer category. It followed an independent judging process by a panel of experts representing a wide range of sectors.

Steve has always been a trailblazer. As the founder of Anthem Engagement and North West Employee Engagement Group, he’s spent decades helping businesses across the North West and beyond create thriving, engaged workplaces.

3 years ago, his life changed overnight when he suffered a devastating stroke. The journey that followed has been exhausting, frustrating, and at times painful but he is so determined to get better. Steve had to relearn how to walk, how to talk and how to navigate life with the side effects he faces following his stroke and Aphasia, a language disorder that affects his communication every single day.

3 years on, Steve has returned to the business he built, this time with an even deeper mission. He openly shares his story with others, not to dwell on what he’s lost, but to show what’s possible.

Steve is using his second chance to make an even bigger impact. He’s now a Trustee for Aphasia Support and has launched a branch in Blackburn, helping local people with Aphasia continue learning, improving, and finding purpose. He’s proving that you can still live a full, joyful life with a disability.

The Trailblazers Awards were launched in early 2025 by national full-service law firm Forbes Solicitors. The awards have been created to spotlight extraordinary people going above and beyond to improve businesses, industries, and communities.

Steve said of the win: “I’m honoured to have been given the Trailblazer Award. To be honest, I don’t always feel like a trailblazer. I’ve just tried to do what I believe in, helping businesses create better workplaces, where people feel engaged, valued, and able to do their best work. Thank you to everyone who’s supported me: Forbes Solicitors, my family, my colleagues, the NWEEG community, and all those who have cheered me on through recovery.”

Pauline Wild, Managing Partner at Forbes Solicitors, commented:
“The response to the first-ever Trailblazers Awards has been incredible, and we’re grateful to everyone who took part. We’ve been genuinely moved by the number and quality of nominations and humbled to read the stories of people and organisations who are redefining the way we think about our communities and industries and demonstrate the positive impact we can all have.

“Even amongst the wealth of inspirational entries, Steve really stood out. All of us at Forbes congratulate him on this incredible achievement and are looking forward to celebrating them at an awards ceremony later this year. Reading through his story was a powerful reminder of the positive change happening across the UK every day.”