Entrepreneur Jay Stewart has reached the final five shortlist for the national Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award, in which he has the chance to win £10,000.
The self-starter told Get West London how he felt when he heard the news: "Thrilled and proud and kind of excited, not only for me but for the wider transgender community."
Jay, who has lived in Harrow for around five years, is the founder of Gendered Intelligence, a social enterprise which aims to increase the understanding of gender diversity.
Jay is a trans-man who lives with his partner and two children. He was born a female but said he was "struggling with a sense of self" until he "found the transgender community".
He set up his enterprise to be able to work with others to break down the barriers to gender diversity, his main aims being transgender inclusion and celebrating gender diversity.
Set up in 2008, Gendered Intelligence provides educational workshops for schools, colleges and universities. Jay also works with the general public, corporate companies and sporting organisations, providing mentoring and promoting diversity.
And if he wins the top prize, Jay wants to continue raising awareness of gender diversity and provide support for more youngsters in the community. He also has plans to set up an assessment to measure the impact of his enterprise, which he believes will be greatly beneficial to his cause.
He adds: "People still face discrimination from lack of understanding and education and being from the transgender community myself, I understand these issues and problems that need to be resolved."
The award in question is the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2016 Award and this year's shortlist "demonstrates the real diversity and creativity of the social entrepreneurs being supported" says Paula Rogers, Head of the Social Entrepreneurs Enterprise Programme at Lloyds Banking Group.
She added: "It is amazing to be able to witness, first hand, the significant impact they are making in their local communities. Through our Helping Britain Prosper Plan we recognise that social enterprise is a key way to create sustainable social change as well as helping to stimulate economic growth and regeneration across the UK."
Voting closes on October 28. For more information on how to vote just click here.
The winner will be announced on November 2, receiving £10,000 with the runner-ups bagging £6,000 and £4,000 respectively.
