We believe that sports should be representative of the audiences it serves. Currently, it is not – neither on the pitch nor in the boardroom – and fixing this is essential for sports to fulfil its long-term growth potential.
Two Circles strives to be a leader in D&I, and though as a business we are by no means the finished product, we are committed to being an agent for change across sports.
This means challenging the status quo, giving voices to those previously voiceless, and being an advocate for inclusion.
A range of initiatives across our business reflect this.
OUR BUSINESS
Two Circles is committed to creating and maintaining a work environment that is welcoming, and where Two Circlers feel safe and free to be themselves. How we do this is led by our People, Diversity & Inclusion Manager – a full-time role created within the business in 2022.
Two Circler-led Forums – which currently include Change the Game (dedicated to women in sport), the Ethnicity Network, and the LGBTQ+ Network – provide a safe and welcoming space to address key topics affecting our society today, and meet regularly to influence Two Circles commitments, both internally and externally. Recently these have included our leadership structure, language used across the company and clients we work with.
Across the year, we use internal and experts to educate and upskill our business in creating and maintaining an inclusive work environment, while we are audited annually against global multi-national corporations on the Global DEI benchmarks Commentary. In our last audit we were rated as “better developed than many larger and more-resourced organisations”, something we are very proud of!
CAREER PATHWAYS
All our recruitment processes ensure applicants are judged on their suitability without discrimination, and we work with every Two Circler on an individual basis to design roles and career pathways that align with their interests.
We also run Diversity in Sports, a six-month mentoring programme that accelerates the growth of under-represented talent across the industry. Launched in 2019, the programme offers opportunities and resources to develop well-rounded skills to help pave a career in the sports industry – and it is open to anyone who has faced career barriers.
In the UK, our internship opportunities have also been established as a Positive Action Scheme, meaning they are open only to applicants from underrepresented or disadvantaged groups.
OUR PARTNERS
Two Circles works with a range of charitable organizations who are using sports to represent, and improve the lives of, people who have faced exclusion.
This includes our pro bono charity partnership with Special Olympics GB, the sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, with whom we have a commitment to raising over $1m incremental revenue. This critical revenue will be invested to support Special Olympics GB grassroots inclusive programming and sporting events.
We are also proud shirt sponsors of Surrey Cerebral Palsy, the football club that is on the charge to the Cerebral Palsy National League, while we have a number of client projects driving the growth and inclusivity of Paralympic and women’s sport globally.