Celebrating Pride Month & how diversity drives growth
At Business West, Pride Month is more than a celebration - it's a reaffirmation of our values: inclusion, respect, and the power of diverse voices. We believe that when individuals can bring their authentic selves to work, everyone benefits. That’s why we champion LGBTQ+ inclusion, not just in June, but every day.
Embracing diversity is not just the right thing to do, it’s a smart business strategy. Diverse teams bring varied lived experiences, leading to greater creativity and improved decision-making. Research shows that diverse teams make better decisions 87% of the time (Knight Frank UK).
“When we all feel safe, welcome, and included, we thrive, which in turn means that the business thrives as well. Diversity brings better and more representative decision making, understanding of the communities we represent and drives innovation, creativity and resilience - all vital to ensure we remain the best place in the country to live, work and learn.”
Matt Tudge, Head of Skills at Business West
Pride Month is a reminder of the importance of visibility, equity, and representation, and the role every organisation can play in creating truly inclusive workplaces.
This month, we’re reflecting on how far we’ve come and recommitting to building workplaces where everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, or background, can succeed.
“As an ally, when I think about Pride, I reflect on my friends and family who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. They have shared their stories of hardships faced not only in their home lives but also their concerns about expressing themselves authentically in the workplace. Celebrating Pride means ensuring that everyone feels seen, respected, and accepted every day of the year, not just in the month of June.
I fear many businesses still ‘Pride wash’ and will happily use LGBTQ+ symbols in their marketing and branding during this month without actually ensuring that their workplace culture is an inclusive and safe space to be who you are. I like to think that Business West is progressive and actively listens to and responds to feedback from employees on how we can all make it a great place to work, which is one of the key reasons why I choose to continue working here!”
Lauren Holmes, Business Engagement Lead at Business West
At the beginning of this month, we hosted the second event in our Swindon Mindful Employer Network series, with a focus on supporting neurodiversity and LGBTQ+ individuals in the workplace. We heard from expert guest speakers, including Megan Patel from Swindon & Gloucestershire Mind, who provided insights from a recent focus group of LGBTQ+ individuals. Within her presentation were powerful real-world experiences along with suggestions and practical tips for employers on how businesses can better support diversity and inclusion. You can read our event recap here or download the presentation slides.
We also have a variety of internal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) activities that take place internally at Business West. We have affinity groups such as the Global Majority, LGBTQ+ & Friends and our Disability network, which allow staff to share resources, talk about specific topics or engage with others in our online groups.
This year we have created a DEI Commitee composed of our colleagues who help organise, represent and ensure that any DEI activities run smoothly. These can range from our monthly In Conversation meetings, which rotate on topics based around inclusion, and allow staff a safe space to talk, be curious and share any experiences or thoughts. These bring people together, allow them to relate to each other and create great cross-department connections.
The Committee also oversees activity such as the demographic survey, ensuring businesses policies are inclusive and sharing any feedback from colleagues to the HR DEI representatives.
“Pride Month is an important reminder to celebrate and support our LGBTQ+ colleagues. Not just this month, but all year round. I am proud to be part of the DEI committee at Business West. For me, it's all about showing up, listening, and creating space for everyone to feel seen and valued.
Inclusion matters to me because I’ve seen how powerful it is when people feel like they truly belong. It boosts confidence, connection, and creativity. When we embrace difference, we open the door to new ideas, deeper understanding, and stronger collaboration.”
Heidi Hardacre, Business Engagement Executive at Business West
At Business West, we know that building equitable, diverse and inclusive workplaces takes intention, action, and ongoing commitment. That’s why we offer our members access to HR training, inclusive policy support, and free events like the Swindon Mindful Employer Network, which give practical tools for creating workplace cultures where everyone can flourish. From workshops on inclusive recruitment, to guidance on developing equal opportunity frameworks, we’re here to support businesses of all sizes in putting people first. By working together through Chamber membership and Business West’s wider network, we can help shape a future where every individual is empowered to succeed.
"We are proud to support our LGBTQ+ colleagues, as we do everyone else who works for Business West. We believe inclusion is more than a value; it is essential to creating an empowered and diverse workforce. We have an ongoing commitment to our culture of respect and belonging that ensures we thrive."
Phil Smith, Managing Director at Business West