Launching our report – Barriers to LGBTQ+ career development in the UK

The Pride in Leadership Report, which we launched in April, showed that barriers still shape opportunities, limit progression, and influence career choices in ways that often go unspoken.

This event will explore, in detail, the findings of our report. We will take a different approach to this event, and bring in multiple key speakers to reflect on some of the different key areas of our report.

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Join us for this unique event, as Claire, Matt, and some special guests, discuss the key insights from our report.

Running order

• 5.30pm | Registration, with welcome drink and networking
• 6.00pm | Discussion, including short talks from our special guests
• 7.15pm | Networking with food and drink
• 8.30pm | Event closes

Venue

NatWest Group
1 Spinningfields Square
Manchester
M3 3AP

Key findings from our report:

“I was told they didn’t want poofs working for them”

• 85% of LGBTQ+ professionals encounter career obstacles due to their identity
• More than a third of LGBTQ+ adults claim their identity negatively influenced their education
• 80% of LGBTQ+ professionals state their identity influences where they choose to live

Limited capacity – secure your place today!

Our speakers (as they confirm)

Jodi Fox

Jodi is Founder/Creative Director of Studio Zenko. A brand consultant and creative director with over 20 years of agency, inhouse and consultancy experience leading strategic branding projects and campaigns for some of the world’s biggest brands.

Jodi designed the Pride in Leadership Report, and will talk about that process. You can read her recent blog here. As one of the few trans leaders in her industry, she will cover the key finding that Trans and non-binary people face significantly greater workplace barriers.

Toby Mildon

Toby is a Diversity & Inclusion Architect and founder of Mildon, a consultancy and advisory business. Toby works with businesses to devise diversity and inclusion strategies, re-engineer processes and systems to minimise the impact of bias and build a culture of inclusion. Toby is the author of the Amazon bestselling books Inclusive Growth and Building Inclusivity. Prior to setting up his business, Toby worked as an in-house diversity and inclusion manager at the BBC and Deloitte. As an openly gay disabled man, Toby will discuss the key finding that Disabled LGBTQ+ people experience significantly more barriers than their non-disabled peers, with rates higher across all barrier categories.

Professor Luke Fletcher

Luke is Professor of Psychology and Human Resource Management at the Manchester Metropolitan University. His research focuses on meaningful work, authenticity and authentic leadership, and LGBTQ+ inclusion. Luke has published in leading academic journals, yet also writes blogs and practitioner articles based on his research, including articles in The Conversation and Harvard Business Review Ascend. Bringing his extensive research background, Luke will discuss when and how to ‘come out’ at work, and managing the visibility and authenticity of their LGBTQ+ identity on an everyday basis. He will also discuss the need to have visible senior LGBTQ+ leaders, and training to build the confidence to overcome the barriers presented in the report.

Rev Jide Macaulay

Reverend Jide Macaulay is a leading voice in EDI and LGBTQ+ faith leadership. As the openly gay British-Nigerian Founder & CEO of House of Rainbow CIC, he pioneers inclusive spaces for Black and queer people of faith. Ordained since 1998, he brings spiritual depth as a Priest, Pastor, and Preacher. Jide is also an HIV activist, author, and inspirational speaker. With degrees in Law and Theology, he advises globally on intersectional justice. He serves as Patron of ReportOUT, Co-Chair of One Voice Network, Chair of INERELA Europe, and Advisor to UNAIDS on HIV and Human Rights. Jide will talk to us about the additional barriers facing black LGBTQ+ communities, including the pressures of culture, religion and immigration. 

 

Amelia Lee

Amelia is Regional Director at Charity People, a for-purpose recruitment consultancy dedicated to helping non-profits hire more effectively, inclusively and sustainably. Based in Manchester, Amelia co-leads Charity People’s work across the North, West of England and Wales, championing outstanding talent beyond London and playing a key role in reshaping recruitment to better support equity, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I) across the sector.

A passionate advocate for compassionate and inclusive hiring, Amelia works predominantly with charities, arts organisations, and higher education institutions, connecting talented people with employers that prioritise staff wellbeing, ED&I, and meaningful change. She views recruitment as a catalyst for sector-wide transformation – creating welcoming spaces where diverse talent can thrive and helping redefine recruitment as a force for good.

Charity People is a B-Corp and proudly employee-owned business, where Amelia sits on the Trustee Board and as a senior leader, ensures that people and purpose are always at the heart of the recruitment process. She has been a speaker on the topics of wellbeing and inclusive recruitment, as well as spearheading professional development opportunities for women in leadership. Amelia will discuss the findings and recommendations that relate to recruitment agencies, and what they could and should do differently to help overcome barriers to LGBTQ+ career development.

Troy Jenkinson

Troy  is a former headteacher, award-winning children’s author, and passionate advocate for Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging in education. With over 20 years’ experience as a school leader, and many more in the classroom, Troy has spent his career using the power of stories to give young people visibility, voice, and validation. Educated under Section 28 and beginning his teaching career in its lingering shadow, Troy knows the harm that invisibility and silence can cause.

Troy is the author of several acclaimed picture books, including: The Best Mummy Snails in the Whole Wide World – celebrating same-sex parenting, and The Most Contented Snail in the Whole Wide World – giving a voice to trans identities. Troy will reflect on the lasting impact of Section 28 and the urgent need to equip teachers and school leaders with the tools to build inclusive, representative environments for the next generation.

Sharon Davies – Founder, Good Place Co
Sharon Davies is the founder of Good Place Co and a passionate advocate for place-based change. With 30 years’ experience in youth, community, and charity leadership including as CEO of national education charity Young Enterprise, she now works with charity leaders, funders, and civic leaders to strengthen strategy, support leadership through transition, and build values-led cultures. Whether coaching a CEO or shaping a grassroots campaign, Sharon brings clarity, compassion, and a deep belief in the power of people and place.

Sharon will reflect on how intersecting identities of being LGBTQ+ and from a working-class background can compound barriers to career progression.

 

Ramses Underhill Smith, Founder of Alternate Care Services

Alternate Care Services is the UK’s first, independent LGBTQI+ domiciliary care provider. Ramses has spent over a decade delivering inclusive domiciliary care for LGBTQ+ and marginalised communities, redefining what affirming, person-centred care can look like.

A trans man himself, he is a founder, advocate, and change maker working across care, culture, and community.