Constructing Rainbows Ltd.

02/06/2026

Looking forward to joining the panel at this fbe Leeds event on Wednesday 17th June where we will be discussing whether we're moving forwards or backwards with EDI in construction.

As you can imagine, I have a lot to say on this topic 😅 but will be interesting to hear others thoughts too. Joining me on the panel is Colin Briggs-Campbell Joanne Hall, Shazad Khan Emily Jenkins with Jordan Steel chairing it all.

Tickets are available through the link below.

Join fbe Leeds for an engaging panel discussion, which will explore Equality, Diversity and Inclusion within the property and construction sector. Following on from our 2021 panel event we will be bringing people together from various areas of the industry.

01/06/2026

As Pride Month begins, I’ve been reflecting on how much has changed over the last few years.

When I founded Constructing Rainbows Limited , it felt like we were moving forwards. More organisations were talking about inclusion, more leaders were listening, and there was a genuine sense that workplaces were becoming places where people could be themselves without fear of judgement or exclusion.

Today, the picture feels very different.

Across the UK and beyond, we’ve seen a rollback of LGBT+ rights, increasing hostility towards minority groups, and a growing tendency for some politicians and commentators to use division as a political tool. Many LGBT+ people are feeling less safe, less visible and less valued than they did a few years ago.

At the same time, demand for EDI work has fallen significantly. Like many small business owners, I’ve had to adapt. Over the last year I’ve found myself spending more time drawing on my commercial, procurement and quantity surveying background, working in areas that have formed the core of my professional career for many years.

But the reality is that inclusion and commercial success were never separate things.

The reason I’ve spent more time involved in politics recently is because many of the challenges we’re facing are no longer being driven by workplace policies alone. They are being driven by decisions made in our political institutions and by the tone of our national debate.

I’ve been disappointed by both Conservative and Labour politicians at times. Too often, issues affecting LGBT+ people have been treated as political footballs rather than matters of dignity, safety and equality.

However, disappointment with mainstream politics should never lead us towards hatred, scapegoating or division. Communities become stronger when we bring people together, not when we set them against one another.

Pride has always been about visibility, courage and collective action. Those values matter just as much today as they ever have.

So whilst my work may be evolving, my values are not.

Whether I’m supporting organisations commercially, serving in politics, or campaigning for inclusion, I’ll continue to stand up for fairness, opportunity and respect for everyone.

Happy Pride Month. 🌈

21/05/2026

Day 2 at UKREiiF was always going to be a packed one.
Started off at Rider Levett Bucknall RLB ‘s office with Sheffield Property Association sharing snippets about their newly released EDI in the Sheffield built environment research with Rebecca Roffe and Tegan Johnson .
A really different presentation about the art of making the built environment desirable - how we can market ourselves better.
Went to hear about the inclusive growth strategy in Camden (mostly out of interest for Natasha Houseman ).
Learnt a bit more about the Oxford-Cambridge corridor which has a lot of potential (if we get the infrastructure right).
Heard from Andrew Dodman about Leeds City Council people practices.
Then at the end of the day we walked around the exhibitions, sampled the local cider on the Cornwall stand which Nicola Lloyd had got in on my suggestion last year and met Lib Dem Cornwall Council leader Leigh Frost . Chatted to Jo Burnett & Arron Ward from The University of Salford about apprentices.
And the end of the day was the Freehold LGBT+ CIC and Cratus Group LGBT+ disco with Sarah Draper FCIPD (She/Her) Kelly Canterford MRICS Misa von Tunzelman FCIM Matt Summerhill and Maria Augusta Wiedner, MRICS, CFA . 🪩🏳️‍🌈
I do think this year has been the best yet, even with a little bit of rain. Well done Nathan Spencer , Matt Christie Louise Eyre and team!
Can’t wait for next year….

19/05/2026

Day 1 at 2026.
It always takes me a little while to settle in, especially as the event gets bigger.
I started the day off with RICS with a session on future skills chaired by Lynda Rawsthorne BSc MA FRICS FAPM FCIOB FIWFM ChPP .
Running into Maria Augusta Wiedner, MRICS, CFA early on in the day gave me an energy boost, always so much fun. 🤩
Then did a couple of sessions on the main stage with Nathan Spencer, and a panel discussion about investing in Britain.
Rider Levett Bucknall RLB hosted a discussion about procurement and social value and avoiding tick boxing, and implementing real impact.
Rounded the day off at Fringe event discussing housing with the 5 political parties. Let’s just say it became quite heated when one of the panellists decided to focus on immigrants rather than the actual problems 🙄
I think the best bit of the day for me was bumping into people for catch ups. Kelly Canterford MRICS Louis Field Jake Drummond MBA FIWFM FCIOB MRICS Kieran Dhunna Halliwell Keith Griffiths
Looking forward to tomorrow (hopefully without the rain).

13/05/2026

Ten years ago, after attending LGBT+ events in other sectors, I came back wondering why Facilities Management didn’t have the same kind of cross-industry network and support.

So I started doing a bit of LinkedIn stalking of LGBT+ network chairs and contacts across the FM sector, asking people if they wanted to get involved and whether we could create something together.

At the time I was working at Carillion, and it felt important that we didn’t try to tackle these conversations organisation by organisation in isolation. We needed a space where people across FM could connect, support each other and help push the sector forward together.

That conversation eventually became LGBT+ in Facilities Management (LGBT+ in FM).

Looking back now, I’m incredibly proud of what the network has achieved over the last decade. The sector isn’t perfect, and there’s still plenty of work to do, but FM has changed hugely in that time. There’s far more visibility, more openness and more understanding of why inclusion matters. 🌈 🌈 🌈

What I probably didn’t expect back then was that alongside the work, campaigning and events, I’d also make lifelong friends through the network. Some of the people I met through LGBT+ in FM have become a really important part of my life, and I’ll always be grateful for that. 🥰

After 10 years on the committee, I’ve recently stepped down and moved into an Ambassador role, which feels like the right next step while still staying connected to something that means a lot to me.

Huge credit to everyone who has volunteered their time, shared their stories and kept the network moving forward over the years. These things only work because people genuinely care.

Really lovely to see the 10th anniversary recognised here:

In 2016, a group of people working across the FM industry felt largely invisible. LGBTQ+ professionals – especially those in sma

13/05/2026

Happy World FM Day!

A huge UK employer, approximately 10% of the working population, yet one that often goes unnoticed as we work behind the scenes in offices, schools, hospitals and across the built environment.

For the last few years I have judged the IWFM Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management awards, and last year one project really stood out for me - Little Exeter. A collaboration between Exeter City Council, Cushman & Wakefield, and many other organisations at Guildhall Shopping Centre. It really demonstrated how social impact can also have a positive commercial impact. So I was super excited to see that not only did it win an IWFM Award but it's also got a Silver in the 2026 Global FM Awards of Excellence!

Having met the team at the IWFM Awards, who were absolutley genuinely over the moon with their award, I wish I had also been there to see them receive this award. Well done Team Little Exeter! 🌟
Facilitate Magazine

The 2026 Global FM Awards of Excellence have been announced, with recognition for the two IWFM Awards entries submitted to the s

12/05/2026

Well this has definitely crept up on me this year!
I can’t believe UKREiiF is next week!
It’s even bigger than last year, and even more going on.
Who else is going? It would be lovely to catch up.
And I hope everyone is doing their sun dances to bring along the good weather to Leeds. ☀️ 💃🏿

30/04/2026

My intentions for The Workplace Event | The Facilities Event this year were to support LGBT+ in FM on their stand, but a last minute request to host The Workplace Leaders Summit for the day representing IWFM | Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management meant it ended up a different kind of day.
And what a fabulous line up from occupancy rates in the NHS Estates to burnout, broadening the definition of return on investment and Mock the Workplace Week and next generation workplaces.
Lovely to catch up with friends old and new.

29/04/2026

Had a lovely couple of days in Edinburgh with The Scottish Government team and Mitie in the beautiful spring weather. ☀️

Was somewhat surprised when Satia Raj popped up in my hotel room talking about renaming roles within in the security sector to encourage more women to join. 😅

24/04/2026

The TUC has released their latest research into racism in the workplace, and it confirms what we have all been feeling, that racism has increased significantly over the last few years.

Although a lot of work has been undertaken to raise awareness of the issues, and encourage reporting, we still have a lot of work to do to make workplaces safe for Black and minority ethnic people in the UK.

Black workers continue to face racism, insecurity and unequal treatment at work across the UK. The findings from No worker left behind demonstrate that despite greater awareness of racial inequality in recent years, many Black workers still encounter hostile workplace cultures, structural barriers t...