Last month we spoke to Keith to hear more about how M&B has been supportive of the LGBTQ+ community, and this month we caught up with Laura, Shift Supervisor at The Clarence - one of our Nicholson's pubs in Mayfair.

When we asked her about the hospitality industry Laura points out, there's still a lot more that can be done to make it diverse and inclusive, so we're really proud of our people who want to speak up and get others talking.

Read on to hear how she's been supported throughout her time with M&B and find out if M&B could be the place to bring your hospitality career.

What made you decide to join M&B?

I joined M&B after speaking to a friend about wanting to progress within the hospitality industry. The company I was working at didn't have the progression opportunities that I was searching for. I also noticed the lack of diversity among the staff. The majority of employees were straight, middle-class, white men and, at times, I felt out of place.

My friend put me in touch with a colleague of hers working at an M&B pub, and I knew straight away it was a workplace where both women and men were treated equally, no matter whether you identified as heterosexual, homosexual or anything in between.

How have you seen M&B support the LGBTQ+ community?

The introduction of the M&Be Yourself group on Facebook is a great start as it has got the company talking. I was also really pleased to see a group of M&B employees coming together to run the London Pride Run 10k and support the community.

Although, we can take it much further than that. Not every employee has access to Facebook, so we need a community they can access.

How have you been supported on a more personal level?

I have a great support network at work, and I feel I can be open without the fear of judgement. I’ve stayed in touch with colleagues who became friends, and they supported me when my family wouldn’t accept the fact that I came out as bisexual and asexual.

What can the hospitality industry do to make the workplace more inclusive?

The hospitality industry has already come a long way in terms of diversity and inclusion (D&I), but it can't lose momentum.

It’s about the implementation of policies that attract a diverse workforce. For example, celebrating national diversity recognition days , encouraging employees to take part in outreach days and activities, and running regular D&I training at all levels. Saying that, we do need to move away from celebrating a particular group of people just once a year and instead celebrate them every day of the year.

Why is M&B a great place for LGBTQ+ allies?

M&B’s workforce is extremely diverse. Not only because there are sites throughout the UK and Germany, but also because of the people it attracts. At every site, the teams are a unique mix of people, all from different backgrounds. Because we work closely, we’re not just colleagues, we're friends.