Organisers of The North West LGBTQ+ Business Awards have announced that Salford-based connectivity provider TalkTalk is this year’s headline sponsor.
The event aims to celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of the LGBTQ+ community from across the North West of England and will see more than 400 guests attend an awards ceremony on Friday 21 October, at Liverpool’s Titanic Hotel.
There will be 15 winners on the night including awards for small businesses, diversity and inclusion, and entrepreneurial spirit. The overall winner will be crowned by headline sponsor TalkTalk with TalkTalk Business, whose company values of We Care, We Challenge and We Commit echo inclusivity and align with those of the awards founder.
TalkTalk is a proud supporter of LGBTQ+ communities, from sponsoring pride events to featuring same sex couples in its advertising and promoting content on social. The connectivity provider’s nationally recognised internal LGBTQ+ network, TalkPride, is a safe space for any colleagues and allies within the LGBTQ+ community and encourages open, honest conversations, support and learnings for the business.
Drew Cockton, Founder of the LGBTQ+ Business Awards, said: “I am excited to be working with new headline sponsor, TalkTalk and its business division TalkTalk Business, for this year’s awards. I believe they not only talk the talk, but really do walk the walk. Studies have shown that companies who allow their employees to be their true, authentic selves in the workplace are more productive, efficient, and prosperous. It is easy for businesses to change their social media profile pictures to a rainbow during Pride month and finding sponsors for this event has not been easy. For TalkTalk to show such support is incredibly refreshing.”
Other sponsors of the event include ChilliMix Holidays, Everton FC and Pipsqueak Portraits.
Drew is the founder of a boutique, high-end fragrance and wellness brand, Owen Drew, which secured investment via BBC Dragons’ Den last year. He attributes winning an award for Owen Drew in 2018 as the catalyst for his business’ success and wants to offer other SMEs this opportunity with the LGBTQ+ Business Awards.
“It is in the national interest for LGBTQ+ people to be supported in business. The community contributes enormously to the prosperity of the region and this is something that needs to be celebrated. Queer people have never had it ‘easy’ and I believe our strength of spirit translates into our increased resilience and ingenuity in business,” said Drew.
David Parslow, Marketing Director and exec sponsor of TalkPride at TalkTalk, said: “We are thankful for the opportunity to sponsor and support the North West LGBTQ+ Business Awards – not only to promote an inclusive culture in the workplace, but to shine a light on the outstanding talent and businesses we have in our region. The awards reflect what TalkTalk stands for and we’re looking forward to celebrating the LGBTQ+ community at the event.”
Mark Sellers, Managing Director at TalkTalk Business, said: “It’s been a tough few years for the North West business community and we’ve seen first-hand the impact that talented, passionate individuals have made in this period. The North West LGBTQ+ Business Awards lends an opportunity for us to hear these stories and recognise the contribution of some of the incredible people from the LGBTQ+ community that have been working tirelessly to drive our region forward in recent times. The awards night is sure to be a night to remember.”
