Stockport Employers invited to explore Inclusive Leadership at next Equal Futures EDI Event

Business leaders looking to drive diversity and inclusion across Stockport are being invited to attend the latest Equal Futures EDI Event.

Taking place on Wednesday 14th May and hosted by Nexperia at their Pepper Road headquarters in Stockport, the session will focus on the theme of developing an Equity Leadership Mindset. Aimed at HR professionals, team managers and senior decision-makers, attendees will get practical insight and expert guidance on how to foster more inclusive, high-performing workplaces.

The Equal Futures Group was established in August 2024 following a series of conversations between local employers and HR professionals, who identified a shared challenge: attracting diverse talent and creating workplace cultures where all employees can thrive.

Chaired by Caroline Patten, Director at Grassroots Recruitment, the group was born out of a growing need for collaborative solutions. Caroline, who has supported numerous Stockport and Greater Manchester employers to redesign their hiring strategies, conducted research into the borough’s demographic profile – highlighting the disconnect between workforce representation and the diversity of the local population. She said:

“What began as a conversation around inclusive hiring quickly became a broader discussion around equity, engagement and leadership. Employers were asking not only how to attract talent, but how to keep it – how to create real belonging, psychological safety and inclusive career development.”

The Equal Futures network now includes members from Stockport Council, Stockport Homes, Stagecoach, Totally Local Company, Starkey Hearing Technologies, Mastercall Healthcare, CDL, One+All, Datesand and Nexperia, among others – spanning public, private and third sectors.

The upcoming event on 14th May features a keynote from Toby Mildon, Diversity & Inclusion Architect at Mildon Consultancy, who will explore how leaders can adopt an equity-based mindset to tackle bias, privilege and team trust.

Also on the agenda:

• Employer Spotlight from Nexperia, with Sarah Bradbury and Tomas Sheppard (Assoc. CIPD) sharing their recent EDI initiatives
• Insights from Elaine Johnson, Director of People at Great Places Housing Group, on the success of the BOOST programme in promoting ethnic diversity and progression
• VCFSE Partner Spotlight from Michelle Conway, Director at Kiera’s Kingdom, who will share her lived experience of disability and the actions employers can take to reduce health inequalities

As always, the event will feature networking, structured group discussion, and introductions to local voluntary and community sector organisations working with underrepresented groups.

The Equal Futures group is committed to creating a safe, inclusive space for business leaders to ask questions, share experiences, and leave with practical actions to take back to their organisations.

Doors open at 9.30am with refreshments and networking, and the main session begins at 10.30am.

Free tickets are available via Eventbrite.