Advice and Opinion - June 2025

  • ‘They Don’t Look Like a Leader’: Challenging Workplace Bias in Promotion and Progression

    Posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 by Carol Edwards1 comment

    It usually starts as a whisper. "They’re not quite ready." "I just don’t see them in that role." "They’re great, but not leadership material." Coded language like this is everywhere in the workplace. It rarely names race, gender, class, disability, or background explicitly. But its impact is sharp, familiar, and quietly devastating. It’s how bias shows up not just in who gets hired, but who gets ...

  • When Inclusion Feels Risky: How to Support DEI Champions Without Burning Them Out

    Posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 by Christine HowellsNo comments

    There’s a growing truth in today’s workplace that we don’t talk about enough: inclusion often rests on the shoulders of the few. While organisations celebrate diversity on their websites and highlight DEI as a core value, behind the scenes it’s usually the same people—those from marginalised backgrounds—doing most of the work to make it real. These are the DEI champions. They’re the ones who ...

  • Standing Firm: How to Lead on Diversity When Times Are Tough

    Posted on Sunday, June 8, 2025 by Carol EdwardsNo comments

    Not long ago, the phrase 'diversity and inclusion' was a sign of progress. It meant workplaces were finally beginning to reflect the people within them. It stood for fairness, representation, and change. But in 2025, those words are under attack. In boardrooms, on talk shows, and across political party lines, DEI is being portrayed as a problem—not a solution. Some call it 'woke.' Others say it’s ...

  • Flexible Working and Job Sharing – Building Careers That Fit Your Life

    Posted on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 by Fiona AdamsNo comments

    The world of work is changing — not just in how it looks, but in how it feels. More people than ever are challenging the old idea that career success has to come at the cost of wellbeing, family life or personal freedom. In every sector, individuals are asking a new question: how can I build a career that works for me ? That question often leads to a broader conversation about flexible working. ...

  • Careers That Make a Difference – Working in Social Impact, Advocacy and Inclusion

    Posted on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 by Bernadette StephensNo comments

    There are moments when people pause and ask themselves a simple but powerful question — am I making a difference in what I do each day? For some, the answer lies in changing jobs, industries or even entire career paths to find something that feels more meaningful, more aligned with their values and more connected to the world around them. This is where social impact careers come in. These are ...

  • Inclusive Employers – What to Look for Before You Apply

    Posted on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 by Fiona AdamsNo comments

    Choosing where to work isn’t just about salary, title or location. For many people today — especially those from underrepresented backgrounds — it’s also about finding a workplace where they can be themselves, feel respected, and grow without barriers. That’s why the idea of an “inclusive employer” is no longer just a buzzword. It’s a benchmark. But not all organisations that talk about inclusion ...

  • Working in Tech Without a Tech Degree – Careers in Digital for Everyone

    Posted on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 by Paul EvansNo comments

    There’s a persistent myth in the job market that you need a computer science degree, years of coding experience, or a Silicon Valley internship to work in tech. But the truth is very different. The technology sector is vast, fast-moving, and filled with opportunities for people from all kinds of educational, cultural and career backgrounds. Whether you’re a career starter, a creative, or someone ...

  • Changing Careers at 30, 40 or 50 – It’s Never Too Late

    Posted on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 by Simon WilliamsNo comments

    It’s easy to feel like your career path is fixed by your thirties, locked in by your forties, and immovable by your fifties. But for many people, the traditional linear career is no longer the norm. We’re living longer, working longer, and in an ever-changing job market, shifting careers mid-life is not only possible — it’s often exactly the right move. Changing careers in your 30s, 40s or 50s is ...

  • Rising to the Top – Pathways into Senior Leadership for Underrepresented Talent

    Posted on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 by Pamela WilliamsNo comments

    In too many organisations, senior leadership still fails to reflect the diversity of the wider workforce or the society it serves. For professionals from underrepresented backgrounds — whether Black, Asian, or racially minoritised, LGBTQ+, disabled, neurodivergent, or first-generation university graduates — climbing the career ladder can feel like attempting a route others have taken blindfolded, ...

  • Quietly Out – Why Visibility Still Lags Behind Progress

    Posted on Monday, June 2, 2025 by Christopher ElliotNo comments

    LGBTQ+ visibility in the workplace is one of the clearest signs of how far Britain has come. In the space of a generation, laws have changed, attitudes have shifted, and many companies now celebrate inclusion as part of their identity. There are openly LGBTQ+ figures in parliament, senior leadership, and across the media. Some are at the heart of government. Others are heading global ...