Paradigm has announced its third podcast, designed to provide an informative and relaxed discussion on topics relevant to the financial services community.

This podcast is timed to coincide with Pride Month 2024 – with events taking place throughout June – and looks at its global importance, while reviewing whether the financial services industry is doing enough to support it and the LGBTQ+ community within the sector.

Taking part in this podcast are Dylan Kinsella, Paradigm’s marketing manager and Aimee Carnwath, Paradigm’s senior marketing coordinator.

The podcast includes a discussion of the history of LGBTQ+ rights in this country, how Pride events have only been legally allowed since the early 2000s, and the ongoing struggles still faced by members of the community.

It also looks at the level of engagement the LGBTQ+ community have with the financial services industry, which tends to show a higher level of mistrust, and what the industry could do to improve those relationships and to understand the specific and individual needs of these individuals

Future podcasts will cover issues around International Men’s Day, Menopause, Black History Month and more. Paradigm member firms can listen to the ‘Paradigm Podcast’ through Spotify or wherever they get their podcasts from.

All of the Paradigm podcasts, can be accessed here.

Carnwath said: “According to the FCA’s Financial Lives survey, which has been asking specific LGBTQ+ questions for the last two years, LGBTQ+ consumers are almost twice as likely to disagree with the statement, ‘I have confidence in the UK financial services industry’. So there is a clear disconnect here between some people within that community and what they are being offered, the way they are treated, and no doubt, the outcomes they feel they are – or are not – getting. Within this podcast we seek to understand why this might be the case, and what we can do as an industry in order to improve this.

“We also explore Dylan’s experience of being LGBTQ+ and working within the industry, as well as looking at what more we can all do more to improve inclusion and diversity within our businesses. Pride is a vitally important month and we hope you enjoy our discussion of a range of issues related to it.”