YouGov become annual sponsor of MRSpride
18 September 2019

Following their support of the launch event for the new network, which unites LGBTQ+ talent and allies across the research sector, YouGov have signed on to support MRSpride’s activities throughout 2020.

”YouGov is delighted to be the Principal Sponsor of MRSpride,” says CEO and Founder Stephan Shakespeare. “Building a relationship of trust and respect with many millions of people is fundamental to our daily work of representing the entire population, and it is also fundamental to our relationships within the professional community as colleagues. We are proud champions of a truly diverse and inclusive talent force and we believe it is a vital driver of success.”

Jane Frost CBE, CEO of MRS, says: “With ‘be fearless’ at the heart of their values, YouGov are a great fit for supporting MRSpride, and with 6 million participants in their global online community I’m particularly pleased to see their commitment to making a sector that provides insight and evidence representative of the world it serves.”

“I feel passionately about the research sector creating diverse and inclusive workplaces that will nourish and secure its talent for the future,” Jane continues. “The launch of MRSpride this year has been a key member-led initiative in this area and the response from the LGBTQ+ research community and allies has been overwhelmingly positive.”

Over 100 guests attended MRSpride’s launch event in May, hosted by UM at their London offices. The standing-room-only crowd heard inspiring stories from Pride in London Co-Chair Alison Camps, Stonewall’s Jan Gooding, LinkedIn’s Josh Graff and PrideAM’s Mark Runacus amongst others.

UM will be hosting a second event on 24 October, focussing on how research can magnify the voice of LGBTQ+ communities and featuring a keynote from The Economist’s Michael Brunt and case studies from Flamingo, the Terrence Higgins Trust, Magenta and On Road Media, Kantar, YouGov and LinkedIn, as well as performance poetry from Jay Hulme.

Michael Brown, the founding Chair of MRSpride and Partner, Insight & Cross-Culture at UM, hopes the upcoming event will continue the network’s momentum but is excited that YouGov’s sponsorship will allow them to hold events outside of London and explore other possibilities.

“From the first time we mentioned MRSpride to YouGov, all we’ve had is support of every kind,” says Michael. “Our vision is to celebrate best practice LGBTQ+ insight and thought leadership, to inspire junior talent and to promote a deeper knowledge of LGBTQ+ people. We want MRSpride to become the go-to platform in society for understanding our community. YouGov’s generous commitment will elevate what we’re capable of.”

Book your place and find out more

• Book your place for the MRSpride event on 24 October here.
• See the photo gallery from the MRSpride launch event here.
• Read more about MRSpride from Michael Brown here.
• Read more about YouGov’s support for MRspride here.