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Impact by Design: The Trans Inclusion Podcast
If you’re responsible for people, policy, or services, you don’t need more noise—you need clarity you can implement.
Impact by Design: The Trans Inclusion Podcast is for leaders, HR teams, managers, and service providers who want trans and nonbinary inclusion that works in real life: in teams, in buildings, in systems, and in high-pressure moments.
Each episode turns common uncertainty into practical action—what to do, what to stop doing, and what “good” looks like across culture, language, data, facilities, safeguarding, and service delivery. This is not performative DEI. It’s operational inclusion—focused on dignity, safety, trust, and outcomes.
WIIFM (what you’ll get):
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All Episodes
Building Resilient Inclusion Policies After UK Legal Change: What HR and DEI Leaders Need
Welcome to Trans Toolkit, where we break down some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing HR and DEI leaders in today's rapidly evolving legal landscape. In this episode, Alex and Jo guide us through the seismic shift that followed the April 2025 Supreme Court decision in For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers—a ruling that redefined "sex" in the UK Equality Act as biological sex, but crucially upheld protections for trans people under the banner of gender reassignment. As organizations scramble to adapt their inclusion policies, our hosts introduce the Trans Inclusion Impact Toolkit—a hands-on, evidence-based framework designed to help teams move beyond legal panic and towards confident, dignity-led practice. Together, they unpack what this means for daily realities: from facilities access, data privacy, and dignity safeguards to the nuanced balance between trans rights and gender-critical beliefs. Throughout the episode, Alex and Jo break down the practical steps every leader should consider, highlight how to lawfully and proportionately manage inclusion, and stress that being kind—and documenting your decisions—remains not just possible, but essential. Tune in to learn how to lead your organization through complexity with empathy, evidence, and clear action.
Navigating Gender Belief Clashes at Work: Legal Lessons for Inclusive Facilities
In this episode of Impact by Design, we tackle the intricate conflict between protected characteristics in the workplace, particularly focusing on gender reassignment and gender-critical beliefs. Following the UK Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland, we delve into two pivotal employment tribunal cases—Kelly v. Leonardo (UK) Limited and Peggie v. Fife Health Board. We explore how these cases illustrate the legal complexities employers face, emphasizing the importance of proportionality in policy-making and the need for inclusive practices. Join me as we examine how organizations can uphold dignity and legal compliance amidst challenging dynamics, ensuring a respectful and fair workplace for all. This conversation aims to equip you with actionable insights to navigate these evolving legal landscapes effectively.
Navigating UK Equality Law After the 2025 Sex Ruling Guidance for Employers and HR
Welcome to "Trans Toolkit." In today's episode, we're breaking down one of the most significant shifts in UK equality law: the April 2025 Supreme Court ruling in the For Women Scotland case, which redefined "sex" in the Equality Act 2010 as "biological sex" for specific legal provisions—especially when it comes to single-sex services and spaces. Alex and Jo will guide you through what this means for your organization in real, practical terms. We'll tackle the confusion and anxiety this precedent has sparked, especially for trans people whose rights and very sense of safety are suddenly under review. You'll hear why inclusion remains both lawful and vital, and why exclusion from facilities isn't automatic—even with the new definition. Today, you'll learn about the parallel protections still in force for trans people under "gender reassignment," the critical proportionality test every employer must apply before even considering restricting access to single-sex spaces, and the necessity of documenting your decision-making with rigorous Equality Impact Assessments. Plus, we use real-world personas like Alexis, Rosa, and Sky to show exactly how these legal nuances play out in everyday policy and HR decisions. If you’re an HR leader, manager, or policymaker wrestling with fast-changing rules, you'll get four actionable steps to maintain dignity, privacy, and trust in your organization. We’re here to make sure you stay lawful, proportionate, and—most importantly—inclusive. Let’s dive in.
Balancing Rights The Proportionality Test and Trans Access to Single-Sex Spaces
Welcome to Trans Toolkit, where we help you navigate the evolving legal landscape around trans inclusion in the UK. In this episode, "Redefining Sex and the Proportionality Test," Alex and Jo break down the seismic shift following the April 2025 Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers. This case clarified that 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex—but as you'll hear, that’s far from the whole story. Our hosts unpack what this definition means for real-world organizations, from the Women’s Institute to Girl Guiding, many of which are struggling to interpret the law without crossing into discrimination. Jo and Alex examine the so-called “proportionality test”—the legal requirement that any exclusion of trans people from single-sex spaces must be rigorously justified, not just based on assumptions about privacy or safety. Through real examples and expert analysis, you'll discover why blanket bans are likely to land organizations in legal trouble, how policies intended to protect often end up widening harm, and what practical steps leaders must take to create policies based on dignity, evidence, and inclusive practice. Whether you’re an HR manager, a membership group leader, or just trying to make sense of the headlines, this episode gives you the essential toolkit for balancing conflicting rights and avoiding legal and reputational risks in a post-ruling world.