June is Pride Month. I absolutely love Pride Month. 

What I love most about it is that it gives us the chance to remember how far the LGBTQ+ community has come. Many milestones are more recent than we sometimes realise. Same-sex marriage has only been legal in the UK for just over 12 years, which shows how recent this progress really is. 

For me, Pride is not only about celebration, but also a reminder that there is still more to do. Discrimination is not always overt. It can show up in subtle ways, through language, assumptions or everyday interactions, and these experiences can still affect how comfortable and safe people feel. 

At the same time, Pride is about celebrating people for who they are. It is about equality, acceptance, learning from one another and recognising how far the community has come. It is also incredibly important because not everyone has an accepting family environment. For many people, Pride is about finding a chosen family and a community that supports them. 

Working at Skills and Education Group has made me appreciate these values even more. The company is genuinely people-focused, and that is reflected in its culture. No one really questions someone’s identity; people are simply accepted for who they are. 

There are lots of small but meaningful things that demonstrate this. The company has introduced pronoun badges, and everyone is encouraged to wear them. This helps to normalise sharing pronouns, rather than making trans people feel like they are the only ones doing it. Pronouns are also included in email signatures, and colleagues are supported in using the facilities that align with their gender identity.

What stands out most to me is that Skills and Education Group doesn’t just acknowledge Pride in June. These values are reflected throughout the year. Inclusion isn’t treated as a one-month campaign; it is part of the company’s everyday culture and actions. 

In other news, something exciting also happened this month. I was invited to speak on a panel at an Echo360 event in London about apprenticeships, my journey and why I chose this route. I was thrilled about this. Sadly, due to personal circumstances, I couldn’t attend, but the event organisers kindly shared a personal message from me. So, I was there in spirit , and I hope I’ll have other opportunities in the future. 

Although I was disappointed not to be able to go, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity. Being invited after Jenny Gordon came across my DOAMA blog was a huge confidence boost. It reminded me that opportunities can come from sharing your journey and being authentic online. 

It also taught me an important lesson: sometimes you need to step back and focus on your personal life. Looking after what’s happening outside of work can be just as important as what happens within it. Taking that time can help you come back stronger, more focused, and able to perform at your best. 

My apprenticeship through Baltic is also going really well. I have been able to step back and focus on developing my skills through Canva Classroom, HubSpot Academy and YouTube learning resources. It has been incredibly insightful, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to dedicate time to learning and growing professionally.