OUR INITIATIVES
Since 2010, and with inclusivity at its heart, Bloom has evolved and expanded its membership and created inclusion groups to support all women at all stages of their lives and careers. Our brilliant Bloom members have spearheaded many great initiatives to elevate voices and champion women in the industry.
THE JUGGLE
We've launched The Juggle - the industry's biggest consultation into work-life balance. Concerns about work-life balance are cited as a key factor in women's continued underrepresentation in particular job roles. But most studies into work-life balance only consider gender divides and lump women together into one homogenous group.
We’ve taken it one step further with The Juggle. It’s the biggest and most in-depth consultation into this issue through an intersectional lens to explore how different groups of women are affected.
The Allyship Code
A curated list of characteristics and behaviours that help everyone become better allies.
Bloom have created an easy-to-use Allyship Code to
provide guidance to anyone seeking to become a good ally. It is designed
to help allies step out of their comfort zones and embrace ways of behaving that
challenge the status quo. Bloom is all about everyday actions, and this Allyship
Code will give those who use it the opportunity to become better allies.
The Bloom Menofesto - created by Bloom Mpower: supporting women in our industry through peri/menopause
This is our Bloom Menofesto for change: change in the language, support and understanding given to all women* in the communications industry in the lead up to, during and after their menopause. Backed by our own Bloom
‘Understanding Menopause’ research carried out in late 2021, and with input from our members, it’s a starting point to encourage open dialogue within organisations to destigmatise & normalise something that 51% of the UK
population will experience in their life.
*and anyone who experiences symptoms as a result of hormonal changes
We are delighted to have partnered with Major Players to share these results, highlight the support that is needed in the workplace and offer a blueprint menopause support framework for business leaders to adopt with their
organisations.
THE GREAT RETURN PLAYBOOK
Bloom UK’s Parents & Carers group created this playbook to provide employers, managers and colleagues with practical initiatives to create positive experiences for those returning from maternity leave.
THE EXCHANGE
We launched The Exchange in 2019 as part of our objective to spearhead industry change and engage more men in the gender debate. It is a cross-mentoring programme that matches industry-leading men and Bloom members. The ethos is to open up a refreshingly honest dialogue between genders to help break down the stereotypes that limit the way we interact in the workplace and work together to make our industry more equal for all.
We’re always looking for partners to collaborate with on initiatives to change the industry for the better. Contact us if your organisation would be interested in collaborating.
THE BOOTH OF TRUTH
One of the initiatives we are most proud of is the Booth of Truth, which made its name at our 2017 BloomFest conference. An unthreatening inflatable confession booth, the Booth of Truth invited women to anonymously share stories of barriers to their success in the industry. The often shocking stories punctured the glossy facade of our industry and triggered a new dialogue about the urgency to shift the gender dynamics at work. The Booth of Truth has been a central part of many events since its debut, and existed in digital form to play its vital role at BloomFest 2021.
BLOOM IN COLOUR
Bloom In Colour is one of our many inclusion groups within Bloom, created to elevate the voices and increase the representation of Black women and Women of Colour across the communications and creative industries. We know representation is disproportionately low if you are black and female. This is a systemic problem reflected in most industry sectors today. In order to represent those voices, we need to be part of the change, promote diversity and lead by example. We need to see colour and not be colour blind. We need to be anti-racist and not be silent. We are committed to being comfortable in our discomfort to make those voices heard. Bloom in Colour is open to all members, and we believe everyone has a voice, everyone's opinions are welcome and everyone is heard.
THE BLOOM MENTORING PROGRAMME
Our Mentoring Programme gives the next generation of rising stars the skills to grow and achieve their career goals by connecting them with inspirational experienced women. We are committed to empowering our Mentees and helping each and every one of them thrive. The programme is open to women with 2 to 6 years of work experience in any discipline across the marketing and communications industry. This includes media agency, creative agency, production, technology platforms, PR, marketing and advertising.