In line with our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we’re proud to be active members of Pride in Gloucestershire’s GLIDE consortium – a network designed to support and inspire inclusivity in Gloucestershire businesses.
We were also pleased to headline sponsor Pride in Cheltenham 2024, which took place in May in sunny Imperial Gardens. This year saw the return of the Pride march, which took to the streets of Cheltenham for the first time in 10 years to celebrate and support our town’s LGBTQIA+ community.
As well as enabling employers to deepen their understanding of LGBTQIA+ people and the issues they face, the purpose of GLIDE is for organisations to learn, share best practice on how to support employees and encourage business engagement with the LGBTQIA+ community and Pride in Gloucestershire.
“Our mission is to make Gloucestershire a great place for LGBTQIA+ talent to thrive in the workplace,” says GLIDE lead, Emma Palethorpe.
“I’ve spent most of my career looking around the table at work and not seeing folk like me, nor seeing any evidence that my employer would ‘have my back’. I have teenage children of my own and I wouldn’t want them or their friends to have to go through that, so I’ll do what I can to help create a world where LGBTQIA+ people can thrive.”
After joining GLIDE, members are invited to attend quarterly hybrid meetings, and slide decks are shared following each one. Ad-hoc support is also provided wherever possible as GLIDE is keen to help meet the needs of all members.
Early in July, Willans hosted GLIDE’s latest meeting which discussed creating employee network groups; their importance and how to get started.
One of our firm’s LGBTQIA+ champions, senior solicitor-advocate, James Melvin-Bath said:
“The next generation is very diverse and inclusive. While many businesses say that that describes them, I think you have to always be developing, always looking at yourself and asking: “what are we doing?” before you can say you are all of those things.
“Willans has been a key part of the Cheltenham community for over 75 years and we’re always looking to improve how we engage with our colleagues, clients and other businesses. Our senior leadership team’s commitment to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community runs to the core of what we do and is a pillar of the culture of our firm.”
GLIDE membership is open to all organisations with employees working in the county of Gloucestershire. To join, complete the application form on the link below: https://www.prideinglos.org.uk/glide
Pride in Gloucestershire celebrates and advocates our county’s LGBTQIA+ community. Through various events, it aims to connect, uplift and inspire; to combat homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia and continuously push for progress, acceptance, and inclusivity for our community. The annual Pride in Gloucestershire celebration takes place on 14 September 2024 at Gloucester Park and some of our team will be attending, so please look out for us and come & say hello!
