Gemma’s Story

Hi, I’m Gemma. I have worked in the Partnership for the last 10 years across a number of roles, both customer-facing and back of house. In each of those roles, I’ve learned something new and truly unlocked what I care about as an individual. As my career progressed, I felt it was time to spread my wings and get involved in something outside of my day job that I am deeply passionate about.

The Partnership has a series of Networks led by volunteers across the business. Our nine Networks play a key role in supporting our ambition and commitment to inclusion and belonging. They are communities offering connection to Partners with shared lived experiences, providing safe, supportive spaces to respectfully share stories and foster a sense of mutual support. Beyond community, Networks also influence policy, offer education and guidance, and actively participate in the Partnership’s democratic channels.

For me, it was vital to demonstrate that the Gender Equality Network is a place for everyone. Our motto is simple: GEN is an interactive and thought-provoking network on ‘Gender in the Workplace’. Our aim is to champion equal opportunities for Partners regardless of gender, because it is culturally, morally, and financially the right thing to do.

During my time in the Network, I’ve been proud to lead and support some incredible initiatives. A few standout successes for our team include:

• The ‘You Know You Can’ Campaign: Sharing inspirational stories of professional development at work.
• International Women’s Day: Hosting impactful Networking Breakfasts.
• International Men’s Day Campaign: Highlighting inspirational men who give back through mentoring, teaching, and charity work.
• Family & Parenting Sessions: Collaborating with the Working Parents Network to deliver workshops on Raising Boys and Raising Girls
• Career Development: Running women-specific CV writing workshops during Learning at Work Week.
• Policy Influence: Working alongside the Policy Team to directly input into the Partnership’s Shared Parental Leave Policies and Procedures.

In August 2025, I was selected to be a Gender Equality Network Representative alongside my colleague Charlie.

In this role, we represent the diverse lived experiences of Partners across our employee-owned business. We drive equitable outcomes by sharing honest reflections to directly influence Council conversations and recommendations. As allies across all Networks, we ensure our individual lenses are magnified and stronger together, embracing intersectionality so that everyone has what they need to thrive, feel accepted, and contribute at their best.

Being involved in this workstream has allowed me to become a true custodian of the business’s future, not just an employee chasing a quarterly KPI. It has enabled me to directly influence how people think and feel about gender stereotypes, helping teams adapt their styles and processes based on that understanding. Ultimately, it proves that when we are given the voice to cultivate a better culture, we deliver better business outcomes because of it.

I’m so excited for what the future holds as we turn our focus toward Transgender and Non-Binary Partners, Men’s and Women’s health, and supporting progression for Women into senior roles.