JLL's Kelly Canterford named one of the UK's top ten LGBT Inspiring Leaders

In recognition of her work to promote LGBT+ inclusion and diversity in the property industry, JLL’s Kelly Canterford has been shortlisted as one of the UK’s top ten LGBT+ Inspirational Leaders in this year’s NatWest British LGBT Awards

February 08, 2018

In recognition of her work to promote LGBT+ inclusion and diversity in the property industry, JLL's Kelly Canterford has been shortlisted as one of the UK's top ten LGBT+ Inspirational Leaders in this year's NatWest British LGBT Awards. 

Kelly is one of the founding members of JLL's LGBT+ and ally network Building Pride and has been co-chair since its launch in 2014.  She is a regular speaker on LGBT+ and diversity issues in Property and has advised a number of clients on their diversity and inclusion programmes. 

She was part of the organising committee for Authenticity, a collaboration between six Professional Services firms to promote careers in City professionals to LGBT+ students. 

Virginia Rothwell, HR Director at JLL UK, said: "Diversity and inclusion are core elements of our business and are values that we champion both internally and within the wider property industry.
"Kelly has made a tangible difference to JLL's Building a Better Tomorrow programme. Our LGBT network 'Building Pride' which she co-founded, has gone from strength to strength winning the 2017 British Property Federation's Inclusivity award.  Kelly's nomination is hugely deserved recognition of her commitment to diversity and inclusion and how she has made a positive difference at JLL."

JLL's Building Pride network has championed LGBT+ inclusion through a wide variety of initiatives including:

  • Working with four client construction companies to tackle homophobia by encouraging 600 workers to wear rainbow laces on site.
    Producing a National Coming Out Day, video featuring staff from across our UK business "coming out" in support of their LGBT+ colleagues, family and friends which was shared and downloaded by 6,000 colleagues globally.
  • Marching publicly at Pride Parades in London, Leeds and Norwich, making JLL the first real estate company to do so. 

The NatWest British LGBT Awards is designed to showcase individuals and organisations that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the LGBT community. The Awards believe that those who go the extra mile to ensure equality, opportunity and fair treatment for all regardless of sexuality, deserve to be recognised.  The overall winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on 11 May.