LGBT+ in FM at The Workplace Event 2026
This year, The Workplace Event (TWE) was as busy as ever. And that lets us do what we do best: have real conversations and demonstrate what inclusion should look like in business.
At our stand, we spoke to hundreds of professionals across the three days. Alongside the welcome waft of free coffee, we shared printed copies of our various guides and resources, and spoke with passers-by about their own ED&I structures, what’s working, where the gaps are, and whether a network like ours could help their organisation.
We also ran our year-on-year survey, and the response was encouraging. Over 100 people took the time to share their experiences and perspectives. Now, we're crunching the data, so stay tuned to see our insights.
Beyond the stand, our committee members were active throughout the programme, discussing a multitude of topics on how to develop and sustain inclusive policies and cultures.
Our sessions
Our co-chair Colin Kimber hosted and spoke on a range of panels, on the need for psychological safe spaces for men, the impact of belonging on performance, resilience and burnout, and on AI in FM delivery. At the belonging session, panellists discussed how technology and AI might be changing the game, but high performance comes from people-first practices. Building culture is vital, and that requires empathy and strategy, not just team days and one-off gestures.
Committee member Rowena Wilding took part in one of the event's sharper sessions, an “unhinged” panel that asked harder questions about the structural barriers women continue to navigate. She observed how women move through the world in a constant state of risk assessment, thinking about what they're wearing, who they're with, and where they are. In contrast, men can often remain neutral to that same environment.
That awareness enhances internal safeguarding and policy-building, not just for women, but for intersecting identities too, including those that are outwardly gender-nonconforming or queer. And that kind of honesty is needed in FM, where frontline workers are often alone, working at night, placing them in vulnerable positions without the right support.
Colin and Rowena also co-hosted a session on inclusive workplaces, highlighting that in a sector facing tight margins and talent pressures, organisations that overlook inclusion are hindering their performance.
The data backs this up: companies in the top quartile for gender diversity are 39% more likely to outperform their peers on profitability. The session challenged myths, shared practical approaches, and made clear that this conversation is as relevant to SMEs as it is to large corporates.
Committee member and founder Sharon Slinger was also active across the event, hosting sessions across the Workplace Leaders Summit on day three, exploring how to define and cultivate culture and success.
A moment of celebration
This year at TWE, we were also there to celebrate. 2026 marks 10 years in operation for LGBT+ in FM. Over a decade of operation, we’ve grown our guidance, our committee members, and kept our presence in spaces that haven’t always welcomed us with open arms.
We also wanted to thank our committee members. We might see each other often on Teams, but nothing replaces those face to face moments, especially for those of us who travelled far – thank you!
And to everyone who stopped by, joined one of our sessions, read through our guidance or filled in a survey, thank you too. To those we connected with, we’ll be in touch soon.
Want to see our regular updates? Follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date, including with our 10 year in reflection campaign.
How is your organisation celebrating pride this year? We’re proud to be sponsoring day one of the largest global conference dedicated to workplace inclusion, WorkPride. Running across five days from 8-12 June, there are panels for everyone. Sign up for a session now.