Ticketmaster is proud to be involved in Manchester Pride’s The Big Weekend 2016. As well as being the main ticket agent for the event, Ticketmaster’s Pride Nation, an Employee Resource Group (ERG) for LGBTQI employees and supporters, will present a float in the parade.
ERGs – employee-led groups which act as a resource for staff – have been created globally across Live Nation Entertainment to celebrate a fair, equal and inclusive workplace. Pride Nation celebrates the LGBTQI community, and the London chapter is driving participation in Manchester Pride. The group has also aligned with the Opening Doors London charity, and soon The Albert Kennedy Trust, and encourages all employees to use their two days of paid volunteer work with the charities.
With The Big Weekend, one of the biggest and longest-running LGBTQI celebrations in the UK, the Ticketmaster team in Manchester has been busy creating the Pride Nation float as their entry in the Manchester Pride Parade. The float will be a designed around a festival site theme, complete with a teepee, a stage and grassy knoll. Over 50 Ticketmaster staff from the London and Manchester offices will join the festivities on board as the float makes its journey through Manchester.
Over 300 employees are based at the Ticketmaster Manchester office, making the city essential to the success of Ticketmaster’s business. With this in mind, the team will also have a recruitment presence at Manchester Pride, exhibiting in the Employers Expo area to reach potential new candidates.
Mark Yovich, President of Ticketmaster International, said, “With a global staff base as diverse as our fans, I am personally grateful to the contributions of our LGBTQI community, in every part of our business. Our partnership with Manchester PRIDE represents a commitment from our company to contribute to positive, actionable change for the LGBTQI community, and support for a greater conversation around diversity and inclusion in business.”
Mark Fletcher, Chief Executive of Manchester Pride, said, “We welcome Ticketmaster’s involvement in The Big Weekend. It has been a great ticket agent and the company’s commitment to LGBT people and equality shines through as a brilliant example to other businesses. The float sounds like a fantastic addition to our Manchester Pride Parade too.”
Earlier this year Ticketmaster was honoured to be a part of the Manchester Pride Spring Benefit, donating raffle prizes for the charity auction. The night raised much needed funds for Manchester Pride and the charities they support.
Ticketmaster is further demonstrating its commitment to the LGBTQI community by supporting the Party in the Parc event in association with Cardiff Pride, with a full open air concert from Years and Years on Friday 12 August.
Tickets are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.co.uk
