What’s my background?
I studied English Literature at Sheffield University and spent most of my time as Volunteering and Charity Coordinator for SingSoc working on music education projects and supporting the UK’s only voice-use charity, 'The Lary Project'. This experience led me to run for election as Activities Officer at Sheffield Students’ Union where I gained a passion for equality and inclusion, working closely with the Disabled Students’ Committee. I then spent a couple of months walking 1200km around Japan and another few working as an au pair before first joining Team GC as Rebecca’s assistant back in 2017.
At Birmingham’s John Taylor Hospice, while working in HR, Fundraising and Facilities, I conducted research into support for LGBT staff members at work and joined a Hospice UK working group developing an equalities training package for the sector. During this time I also founded a research campaign on sexism in the third sector with colleagues I’d met via the Charityworks Graduate Scheme.
Outside of work, I am a Trustee for a wonderful South Yorkshire, LGBT+ youth charity called SAYiT.
What do I do at Gradconsult?
As a Senior Consultant at Gradconsult, my passion for EDI has continued and I aim to bring my knowledge and experience of this sector to all the work I do. I design and deliver recruitment processes with small and large employers and employability programmes and for students and graduates, working to support students and graduates to make the transition from education into the world of work. I also work with businesses to develop equality and inclusion strategies, including:
- Delivering race equity work with Sheffield Students’ Union, including designing a BAME Traineeship
- Writing the graduate strand of the Women in Transport strategy with the Go-Ahead Group
- Designing and delivering a Confidence Development Programme for Widening Participation students at Leeds Beckett University.
I also supported Rebecca to launch our partnership with Student Minds, running conference workshops and writing web content on student/graduate mental health.
Some examples of other projects I have been working on recently include:
- Here is a video I recorded for the Queer Student Awards aiming to support students/graduates coming out as LGBT+ at work:
- I was a guest editor for Student Space, Student Minds’s government-funded, coronavirus student support site. I wrote content on bouncing back from failure, job hunting during the pandemic, and worked with students and graduates to create a series of videos on similar topics
- I am the RISE Candidate Engagement Manager, leading on the attraction and selection for an EU funded economic development project aiming to bring together graduates with local Sheffield City Region SMEs
- I conduct adverse impact reviews on recruitment processes, to identify any bias across the different stages, implementing strategy actions and designing training to counter any bias which emerges
- Career mentoring and coaching with students and graduates (I was awarded The University of Derby’s Mentor of the Year 2019)
- I love a research project – whether it is on local skills gaps, unconscious bias, and regional wellbeing provision for graduates
Life loves
- Wild swims & mountain walks with my friends and family
- Rabbits
- Queer fiction
Pet peeves
- People who don’t understand vegetarianism/veganism
- Repeated sniffing instead of just blowing your nose
- Inaccessibility
Get in touch
T: 0114 221 0242
M: 07389 182 080
LinkedIn: Annie Gainsborough
Twitter: @AnnieLouiseG