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On Thursday 22th October, Darren and Andrew represented our Pride Network at the Terrence Higgins Trust 20th Anniversary Positive Voices Awards, a wonderful evening celebrating two decades of speakers living with HIV challenging stigma and inspiring change across the UK.
As long-term partners of Terrence Higgins Trust, we were proud sponsors of the Quiet Impact Award, joining hosts Katie Piper and Angelina Namiba on stage to present the award. We were also thrilled to be named a finalist for Long Standing Support: Corporate Partner!
From cheering a standing ovation for Programme Manager Sue Hunter to reflecting on our own journey with THT (from our 2021 Lunch & Learn to our 2025 Radio Next Pride broadcast), it was an unforgettable night.
We want our upcoming community events to be as authentic, meaningful and inclusive as possible across all locations. Alongside a new partnership with Gaydio and ongoing work with our charity partners, Just Like Us and the Terrence Higgins Trust, we need your input to shape our plans.
Here is a preview of what is in the pipeline for Pride Month 2027:
Gaydio Pride Awards (12th March 2027): We may soon have an opportunity to attend the awards. Watch this space.
🎬 Queer Film Night (Leicester): A private screening for up to 30 colleagues at the independent Phoenix Cinema, featuring a top-voted film.
📍 Expanding North (Leeds): To ensure our reach extends beyond the Midlands and London, we are planning a northern event, with Leeds as our lead option. We especially welcome feedback from our regional and distribution teams.
🏳️🌈 Pride 2027 Main Event: We are deciding between two parade locations:
Cardiff Pride (12th June 2027)
Dublin Pride (26th June 2027)
We Want to Hear from You
Your feedback directly shapes our final plans. Please take two minutes to complete our short survey.
We want to take a moment to reaffirm our unwavering support for you following the recent Supreme Court ruling.
NEXT is committed to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive workplace. Regardless of any legal developments, your rights, dignity, and place here are fully protected and respected.
We recognise and value your identity, and we continue to stand by our values of equity and inclusion for all employees.
If you have questions, concerns, or simply need someone to talk to, we encourage you to reach out to your LGBT+ Employee Led Community at pride@next.co.uk, your line manager or your HR team. We’d also like to take this opportunity to remind you of the great Trans community below.
We are here to support you, not just in policy, but in practice, every day.
Thank you for being an essential part of the NEXT team.
We want our 7th year to be the biggest and best ever!
We spoke to Andrew about what's on plan for 2025 but we want to hear from you.
Andrew Jurd | Chair of Pride at NEXT
Here are the key ambitions for myself and the committee for the next 12 months:
Hearing from you - This year’s key ambition is to involve each and everyone of you with everything we do. So please let us hear your voice, tell us what you want from your community.
LGBT+ History month - raising awareness of the impact the Pride Community space
has had over the last 6 years and what the people involved over the last 6 years are most proud of.
Pride Month - Working on better representation across the brand for the month of June, including Product, Marketing and events.
Charity Partner - Continuing our relationship with the Terrence Higgins Trust, supporting their aim of now new HIV cases by 2030.
