Industry News

Publishers mark Pride month with diversity and inclusion initiatives

Incisive Media and Mark Allen Group are among the publishers launching initiatives to mark Pride month in June.

Incisive said it has formed a new staff diversity and inclusion taskforce to lead efforts in this area , identify areas for improvement or highlight where it can support initiatives in its core markets to live up to the business’s ‘All Souls Welcome’ ethos.

“While it is always great to see so many companies flying the rainbow flag in June as we do, we want to ensure that Pride remains a bigger part of our agenda after the month is over. This is why I am delighted and passionate to be running our new D&I taskforce,” said HR manager Maria Margariti.

“As a London-based business, we hope to be able to celebrate Pride fully in September, with more staff back in the office and in the hope that the Pride in London march will take place.”

Incisive has a longstanding partnership with LGBT Great, and this year the company’s flagship brand Investment Week will be supporting LGBT Great’s Global Top 100 Executive Allies & Awards for the first time. The event will showcase a number of Project 1000 Role Models who will share their personal journey within the investment industry and how their organisation is working to fully support its LGBTQ+ talent.

Meanwhile, Mark Allen Group has announced the creation of MA Pride, a network for LGBT+ employees and allies who wish to support their LGBT+ colleagues.

Co-chaired by Beau Jackson, deputy editor of HR magazine, and David Russell, marketing manager for MAG Digital Resources and Mark Allen Dentistry Media, the group aims to support incoming and existing LGBT+ employees and allies to promote a culture of belonging.

Mark Allen said it is committed to building a working environment which provides equality of opportunity and freedom from all forms of discrimination.

It added that MA Pride has been set up to improve employee awareness of the challenges LGBT+ colleagues may face and create informed solutions through a supportive network. The group will also collaborate with teams internally to ensure policies, communications and employee events are inclusive of LGBT+ employees.

The network has executive sponsorship from Mark Allen HR director Stuart McLean and support from HR manager Lucy Nyuke. It will sit underneath the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion group.

Co-chairs Beau Jackson and David Russell said: “An ability to be open about our sexuality makes us more confident at work and we want all colleagues to feel that way too. It’s also important to bring those outside of the LGBT+ community with us, as we can all benefit from mutual support and understanding of one another. It is great to have been supported in creating MA Pride at Mark Allen, and we are very proud to be co-chairing the network."

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