Pride Peers - LGBTQ+ Professional Networking Event - May

🌈 LGBTQ+ Professional Networking Night – Connect, Collaborate, and Thrive! 🌟

Join us for an empowering evening of connection, collaboration, and community at our LGBTQ+ Professional Networking Night! Whether you're an industry leader, social entrepreneur, founder, job seeker, or just looking to expand your professional circle, this event is designed to help you build meaningful connections in a welcoming and inclusive space.

Why Attend?

✅ Grow your Network – build meaningful and new connections with LGBTQ+ people across business, entrepreneur, charity and the creative sector

✅ Gain valuable insights - from LGBTQ+ leaders and founders

✅ Opportunities - explore opportunities to collaborate, work together and share resources

✅ Feel inspired – hear from inspiring LGBTQ+change makers

✅ Safe & Inclusive Space – enjoy being in an inclusive space where authenticity is celebrated!

Whether you're looking to connect, learn, or grow, this event is your chance to be part of a vibrant and supportive LGBTQ+ professional community.

Your hosts:

Ellis Beardsmore (they/them) - Co-founder of Pride Outside CIC

Ellis' leadership journey began in their youth, taking on key roles in youth groups and becoming chair of the British Youth Council charity at just 21. Their passion for leadership and social justice has since evolved, leading them to co-found Pride Outside.

With over 20 years of experience in the UK and internationally, Ellis has held leadership roles across the nonprofit sector, including serving as CEO of an educational charity in Scotland. Their global experience includes working in Sudan and Pakistan on youth and education programs with the Department for International Development.

Beyond their professional leadership, Ellis is a trainee psychotherapist specialising in work with the trans community in Glasgow. They are also a dedicated volunteer, actively supporting LGBTQ+ initiatives and fostering inclusive spaces.

When they aren’t driving change in their professional and community work, Ellis finds inspiration in Scotland’s rural landscapes, whether mountain biking through challenging trails or camping out in nature.

You can connect with Ellis on Linkedin

Lou Beardsmore (she/her) – Co-founder of Pride Outside CIC

Lou Beardsmore is an inclusive leader and changemaker dedicated to fostering LGBTQ+ inclusion, leadership, and wellbeing. As the co-founder of Pride Outside CIC, a Glasgow-based social enterprise, Lou is committed to creating transformative spaces that empower individuals and organisations to embrace diversity and drive meaningful change for their LGBTQ+ employees, clients and service users.

With over 20 years of experience in the third sector, Lou has worked across the UK and internationally with global organisations such as the Red Cross, Oxfam, and ActionAid. Her expertise spans DEI, fundraising, grant management and social impact, having collaborated with over 100 charities, B corps and social enterprises to amplify their impact.

When she’s not driving social change, Lou can be found adventuring across Scotland in her very old trusty campervan. And if you happen to stumble upon a comedy stage, don’t be surprised to see her there too—using humor as a tool for activism, delivering her sharp, politically charged comedy with the same passion she brings to her leadership and inclusion work!

You can connect with Lou on Linkedin

Pride Outside

Pride Outside are an award winning social enterprise championing LGBTQ+ Learning, Leadership and Wellbeing in Scotland. We are on a mission to create a world where all LGBTQ+ people feel safe and can thrive and we do this through our LGBTQ+ Inclusion work with organisations, LGBTQ+ Leadership programme and Conference and our LGBTQ+ Wellbeing programmes and annual outdoor festival in Glasgow.

You can find out more about Pride Outside’s work on their website: www.prideoutside.org.uk

Accessibility

We want to make this event as accessible as possible so we will ask you at registration if there's anything we can do to make the event more accessible to you.

You can also email us on events@prideoutside.org.uk as we want everyone to feel comfortable welcome at our events.

• Wheelchairs - The Social Hub is a wheelchair accessible venue on ground floor
• Toilets - there are gender neutral and accessible toilets on the ground floor
• Seating - there is a variety of seating including couches, chairs with backs and stools
• Food - Vegan light bites will be provided but you can check out TSH full menu here
• Drinks - this is a sober event with delicious mocktails on arrival
• Pictures - please let us know at check in if you don't want to be in pictures
• Parking - is 4 minute walk at NCP Glassford Street - The Glasshouse NCP Car Park
  
  

How to get there:

Address: The Social Hub, Candleriggs Square GLASGOW G1 1TQ

Train: the venue is only a 10 minute walk from Queen Street Station or Central station.

Driving: parking is a 4 minute walk at NCP Glassford Street - The Glasshouse NCP Car Park

Subway: the nearest subway station is a 10 minute walk from St Enoch station

Bikes: bike racks are available just outside the venue

This event is supported by:

Social Enterprise Scotland: Social Enterprise Scotland is the national intermediary and membership organisation for social enterprises in Scotland.

The Social Hub is an exciting new venue in Glasgow where the world comes to learn, stay, work and play. At The Social Hub, we strive to create a better society for everybody. It's a bold ambition; but small steps create big change. That's why we work every day to build and run our hubs responsibly and to engage with communities effectively. We believe hospitality has the power to shape a fairer future