These three Liverpool City Region businessmen have been shortlisted for a top award celebrating the LGBT+ community's bravest, brightest and best.
The awards, hosted by the LCR Pride Foundation, are intended to shine the spotlight on those working to make the Liverpool City Region the most LGBT+ friendly in the 海角视频, and the nominees for the 'Business Person of the Year' category have been announced.
The three nominees are general manager at NOVOTEL Liverpool and the Ropewalks Bar and Kitchen, Cyril Bulvestre, chief executive of the ADHD Foundation, Dr Tony Lloyd, and chief executive of communications agency Agent, Paul Corcoran.
The awards will take place later this month at the Hilton Hotel in Liverpool city centre.
Andi Herring, chair of the LCR Pride Foundation, said: “We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the response to our first ever LCR Pride Awards. The region is filled with so many individuals and organisations that do incredible work to support the LGBT+ community in the Liverpool City Region and beyond.
“Every single person who was nominated is a star in our eyes, but we were truly blown away by the inspirational work and achievements of those on our shortlist. The ceremony is set to be a glittering, empowering and uplifting evening for our community.”
The category is sponsored by Morecrofts Solicitors, and LCR Pride Foundation said Mr Bulvestre has been general manager of the two firms for over two years, creating "diversity and inclusion".
He was the first general manager to "really embrace" Pride in Liverpool, by allowing it to host its very first pride bottomless brunch, decorate the venue with Pride flags and letting members of the team to dress in drag.
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The entry said Mr Bulvestre makes his venues a safe place for his team "to be free to express themselves however they wish, not only during Pride but throughout the whole year".
According to the organisers, Dr Lloyd ensures that all staff at the ADHD Foundation are trained in cultural diversity and the Equalities Act and, as the largest patient-led service for ADHD in Europe, they have a proactive policy to recruit from minority population groups including LGBT+.
He is "passionate" about workplace equality and actively promotes their service as LGBT+ friendly and participates in LGBT+ community activities, such as Pride in Liverpool. Liverpool is now seen as the national centre of excellence for ADHD solely because of the ADHD Foundation, who challenged an initially resistant NHS, the entry added.
Mr Corcoran is chief executive of full-service brand and communications agency, Agent and founding director of social enterprise, Agent Academy CIC.
According to organisers, he has demonstrated "extraordinary business and leadership skills", and represents the Liverpool City Region’s business community in his role as deputy chair of the Liverpool LEP and industry champion of the Policy and Evidence Centre for the creative industries.
Merseyrail was announced as headline sponsor for the awards, which will take place on September 26.
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The event will feature a number of awards, celebrating the achievements of individuals from grassroots campaigners and local performers to businesses and organisations undertaking wider national work.
The panel of judges will include Metro mayor Steve Rotheram, Flight Lieutenant Caroline Paige and Marie Causer.
Jane English, HR Director, said: “Here at Merseyrail we are committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity amongst our workforce and beyond.
“Through our partnership with the LCR Pride Foundation we have taken part in a number of initiatives and will be setting up our own group internally focused on working together with the LGBTQ+ community.
“The LCR Pride Awards is a great way of showcasing the fantastic work the region’s LGBTQ+ community does to make the Liverpool City Region one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly in the 海角视频.
“We are incredibly proud to be headline sponsors of the awards and can’t wait to hear about the wonderful individuals and projects that have been going on over the last twelve months.”