Diverse Matters

Diverse Matters Diverse Matters is a diversity and inclusion consultancy that works with organisations to embed diversity and inclusion within their practices.

We use a tailored approach to ensure that the services required meets the specific needs of the organisation.

03/09/2026

Inclusion isn't about making every child the same.

And how boring would our lives be if we only spent time with people who looked like us, sounded like us and believed the same things as us?

In our latest Diverse Talk Matters teaser, Gemma Hathaway makes a powerful point about what inclusion really means in education.

If children encounter the same curriculum, the same perspectives and the same voices every day, but rarely see themselves reflected in what they are learning, we have to ask what that means for their sense of belonging.

Gemma suggests starting small.

Take just one lesson and ask:

"Whose voice is present?
Whose voice is missing?"

It is a simple question, but it can open up a much bigger conversation about representation, identity, curriculum diversity and belonging.

In Episode 33, Inclusive Schools: Turning Commitment Into Action, Tash talks to Gemma, EDI Lead at Inspire Education Trust and Assistant Headteacher at Bluecoats School in Coventry, about what it takes to move inclusion beyond policies and visible EDI activity and into everyday school practice.

This episode is coming soon, so watch this space.

In the meantime, catch up on previous episodes of Diverse Talk Matters on your favourite podcast platform or on our YouTube channel.

02/09/2026

As children return to school across the UK, our latest podcast episode feels especially timely.

Episode 33: Inclusive Schools Matter: Turning Commitment into Action explores what it really takes to create schools where every child belongs, every child matters and inclusion is embedded in everyday practice.

In this episode of Diverse Talk Matters, Natasha Broomfield-Reid is joined by Gemma Hathaway, EDI Lead at Inspire Education Trust and Assistant Headteacher at Bluecoats School in Coventry.

With more than 16 years in education, Gemma brings both strategic leadership experience and the perspective of someone who remains firmly connected to the classroom.

She shares powerful insights into student voice, curriculum diversity, belonging, representation and what it means to move beyond visible EDI activity and make inclusion part of how a school operates every day.

And, as this clip reminds us, there is a much bigger picture at stake.
“We're creating future leaders. We're nurturing future leaders.”

The young people in our schools today will become tomorrow's leaders. The question is: what are we doing now to ensure they experience education in environments where they can belong, be heard and thrive?

Episode 33 is coming soon, so watch this space.

In the meantime, catch up on previous episodes of Diverse Talk Matters on your favourite podcast platform or on our YouTube channel.

Today is Women’s Equality Day in the US, marking the certification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, securing women’s const...
26/08/2026

Today is Women’s Equality Day in the US, marking the certification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, securing women’s constitutional right to vote.

While this is a US observance, we feel it is important to stand in solidarity with women in the US as hard-won rights are being rolled back, with implications that extend far beyond US borders.

Today it also gives us an opportunity to talk about something that matters everywhere:

Women’s equality is still very much unfinished business.

In the UK, the gender pay gap for full-time employees was 6.9% in 2025. Women continue to earn less, progress less quickly and face barriers that men do not.
And for some women, those inequalities are compounded by other forms of marginalisation.

For example, disabled women earned a median £13.11 an hour in 2023, compared with £14.50 for non-disabled women and £17.08 for non-disabled men.
This is just one example.

If we are serious about equality, we need to understand how gender intersects with race, disability, age, class and other characteristics to shape people’s experiences and opportunities.

Because equality for women means all women.



At Diverse Matters, we offer personal development and leadership programmes that build the skills, confidence and self-a...
20/08/2026

At Diverse Matters, we offer personal development and leadership programmes that build the skills, confidence and self-awareness managers need to lead effectively and create workplaces where people can be themselves and perform at their best.

Our programmes include:
• Inclusive and compassionate leadership
• Communication, confidence and assertiveness
• Confidence building
• Coaching and mentoring
• Reverse mentoring
• Conflict and difficult conversations
• Leading change and motivating teams
• Professional boundaries and self-care
• Authentic leadership
• Talent and succession planning

We also offer Everything DiSC®, helping people understand themselves and others to build stronger, more effective working relationships.

And where your organisation has a specific challenge, we can develop bespoke leadership programmes, including around disability, gender and racial equity and underrepresentation in management.

Developing your managers is an investment in your people, your culture and your organisation.

If you’re looking to strengthen your managers or develop your next generation of leaders, get in touch to discuss what your organisation needs.



Human dignity should never depend on where you live, what you have experienced or the crisis you are facing.Today, 19 Au...
19/08/2026

Human dignity should never depend on where you live, what you have experienced or the crisis you are facing.

Today, 19 August, is World Humanitarian Day. It is a day to recognise humanitarian workers around the world, remember those who have lost their lives helping others and stand with people affected by conflict, disaster and crisis.

The day was established by the United Nations in memory of the 22 people killed in the bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad on 19 August 2003, including humanitarian workers.

With conflicts continuing across the world, its message feels particularly important.

Humanitarian workers provide food, shelter, healthcare, protection and vital support in some of the most challenging and dangerous circumstances imaginable, often at considerable personal risk.

But at the heart of humanitarian action is something fundamental: human dignity. Every person deserves to be treated with dignity, respect and compassion, regardless of their circumstances.

Today, we recognise those providing support, remember those who have lost their lives and stand with the millions of people affected by conflict and crisis.

Because recognising our shared humanity is where inclusion begins.



Not sure where to start with your DEI priorities? Let's talk.You may know that your organisation needs to take action, b...
13/08/2026

Not sure where to start with your DEI priorities? Let's talk.

You may know that your organisation needs to take action, but need clarity on what that should look like. You may have a specific requirement that isn't covered on our website. You may be considering an audit, training, strategy or policy work and want to explore what would be most valuable. Or perhaps you're looking for a speaker who can bring insight, challenge and practical experience to your event.

You don't need to have it all figured out before you contact us.

At Diverse Matters, we start with the conversation. We take the time to understand your organisation, your priorities and the challenges you're trying to address, then explore where we can add genuine value.

And if we're not the right team for what you need, we'll tell you.

So if you've been following our work and wondering whether we could help, let's talk.

No obligation. No hard sell. Just a conversation about where you are, where you want to go and what could move your organisation forward.

Sometimes, that's where meaningful change begins…



Perhaps you're a team leader, HR professional or DEI lead who can see the benefits of investing in DEI training, consult...
12/08/2026

Perhaps you're a team leader, HR professional or DEI lead who can see the benefits of investing in DEI training, consultancy or organisational change.
The challenge is getting the non-believers to see it too.

When budgets are tight, DEI projects can be challenged like any other investment. Leaders may ask what the return will be, what problem it will solve and why this should be prioritised over other areas of the business.

So how do you get buy-in?
Start with their priorities, not yours.

If the organisation is struggling with recruitment, demonstrate how inclusive recruitment practices could widen the talent pool.

If retention is a problem, look at where exclusion or inequity may be contributing to people leaving and what that could be costing the organisation.

If productivity, innovation or collaboration are priorities, explore the evidence around how diverse perspectives and inclusive working practices can contribute to better organisational outcomes.

If risk is a concern, consider the potential financial and reputational costs associated with discrimination, exclusion and poor workplace practices.

Then make it measurable.
What is the problem?
What is it costing the organisation?
What intervention could help?
What would success look like?
How will you measure it?

There is growing evidence to support the commercial case. A 2024 study from the London School of Economics found positive associations between DEI and long-term market valuation and innovation, with no evidence that DEI improvements came at the expense of short-term financial performance.

You may not get everyone on board immediately. You don't need to.
Find the leaders, managers and colleagues who are prepared to engage. Build the evidence. Demonstrate value. Measure the outcomes. Use those results to create momentum.

Getting buy-in for DEI isn't just about convincing people that inclusion matters. It's about showing how the right investment can help address the challenges your organisation is already trying to solve.

At Diverse Matters, we work with organisations to develop practical DEI strategies, training and services that are connected to organisational priorities and measurable outcomes.

If you need support building the case for investment in DEI, we'd be happy to talk.



Meaningful inclusion requires understanding the reality of an organisation, challenging assumptions and turning insight ...
06/08/2026

Meaningful inclusion requires understanding the reality of an organisation, challenging assumptions and turning insight into action.

At Diverse Matters, we partner with organisations to create change that is thoughtful, practical and sustainable.

What makes our approach different?

📌 We understand complexity
Inclusion sits within a wider landscape of culture, communities, experiences and expectations. We help organisations understand the challenges they face and the opportunities ahead.

📌 We create tailored solutions
Every organisation has its own context. We work with you to design approaches that respond to your specific needs, goals and ambitions.

📌 We bridge strategy and action
Good intentions need a clear pathway forward. We help organisations move from understanding the issues to embedding meaningful change.

📌 We challenge as well as support
Progress requires honest reflection. We ask the difficult questions, identify opportunities and help organisations move forward with confidence.

📌 We focus on sustainable change
Inclusion is not a moment in time. It is built through the decisions, behaviours and practices that shape everyday organisational life.

Because creating inclusive organisations requires more than awareness.
It requires commitment, expertise and action.


Creating workplaces where people feel valued, respected and able to thrive requires more than good intentions.It require...
05/08/2026

Creating workplaces where people feel valued, respected and able to thrive requires more than good intentions.

It requires an understanding of the different experiences, barriers and opportunities that shape people’s lives at work.

At Diverse Matters, our strength lies in the depth and breadth of expertise within our team.

Across disability inclusion, race equity, gender equality, LGBTQ+ inclusion, neurodiversity, wellbeing, inclusive leadership and organisational culture, our specialists bring knowledge, insight and practical experience to help organisations navigate complex challenges.

But expertise is not just about knowing the theory.
It is about understanding the nuance. Asking the right questions. Challenging assumptions. Listening to different perspectives. And turning knowledge into action.

Our team brings together decades of experience across sectors, disciplines and communities, supporting organisations to move beyond intention and build cultures where everyone has the opportunity to contribute and succeed.

Because when it comes to inclusion, there is no one-size-fits-all approach.
There is only the right expertise, the right conversations and the commitment to keep moving forward.

Discover more about the Diverse Matters team: https://www.diversematters.co.uk/about-us/our-team


Broomfield

Today we'd like to shine a spotlight on The Women's Awards as they celebrate their 10th year of recognising the outstand...
30/07/2026

Today we'd like to shine a spotlight on The Women's Awards as they celebrate their 10th year of recognising the outstanding achievements of women across the UK.

Founded by a friend of Diverse Matters, Sandra Po***ck OBE MA, a respected equality advocate, leadership expert and entrepreneur, The Women's Awards continue to champion women from every culture, community and sector, helping to raise the profile of those making a real difference.

We're also incredibly proud that our Founder, Natasha Broomfield-Reid, has been invited to serve as a judge.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳’𝘴 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴:
𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠:
- Female Entrepreneur
- Woman in Professional Services
- Woman in Public Services (including Uniformed Services)
- Woman with Community Impact (Charity & Voluntary)
- Woman in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics)
- Female Leader of Global Majority
- Woman in Art, Media & Music
- Woman in Education
- Woman in Care Services
- Senior Female Executive
- Female Disability Awareness Champion
- Female in Construction
- Female in Hospitality
- Male Supporting Female Leaders

If you'd like to learn more about The Women's Awards please visit their website



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CV12TE

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Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
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