Trans Awareness Training

Employer’s Moral Duty

With more media coverage on trans issues over the last five years or so, trans people are becoming more visible and we feel more able to come out than we ever have before. It’s becoming more and more likely that you will have a transgender member of your team soon (if you haven’t already). This can cause problems in the workplace if there are some transphobic members of the team or others who are just ignorant of the needs and sensitivities of trans colleagues. A survey in 2021 by YouGov on behalf of TotalJobs showed that 32% of trans people had experienced transphobia in the workplace in the previous 5 years, 65% of trans people hide their trans status at work and 43% of trans people have quite due to their workplace being so unwelcoming.  That really shouldn’t be.

Employer’s Legal Duty
Apart from your moral duty to protect your employees from transphobic abuse, you also have a legal obligation under the Equality Act 2010 to create an inclusive workplace and to have anti-discrimination policies in place.  It only takes one transphobic member of staff to land their employer in a tribunal for discrimination, but having a regular and compulsory trans awareness training programme for all staff gives the employer a very strong defence against such cases.

The Business Case for Trans Awareness Training (& for all LGBT+ Inclusion)
It makes great business sense too as LGBT+ staff are 32% more productive when they are comfortable being out at work. In 2016, Credit Suisse discovered that closeted employees are 73% more likely to leave their jobs within 3 years than those who are out. So by being trans-inclusive, you are likely to have greater staff retention as well as have a more profitable company. Also, what do your customers think of you? The Harvard Business Review 2016 showed that 71% of LGBT respondents and 82% of LGBT allies said they are more likely to purchase from a company that supports LGBT equality. That’s what I call a win-win-win!

Why Choose Katie Neeves?
Being a transgender woman who is currently in transition, I offer a very personal, powerful and authentic insight into what it’s like to be transgender in the UK.  I tell my story with humour and in a refreshingly un-corporate manner. I am not afraid to tell it like it is, but I think it is essential to entertain as well as to educate.

I prefer to have small groups of up to 15 people for in-depth training sessions (although I regularly to talk to large audiences for less in-depth presentations) as I aim to create an atmosphere in which people feel comfortable to ask me questions that they may feel uncomfortable asking a trans colleague. Nothing is off-limits! I am not embarrassed about answering very personal questions as I know it helps to further others’ understanding and acceptance of trans people. I actively encourage questions and dialogue as I want my sessions to be more like a conversation than a lecture.

I am happy to either work directly for companies or as a subcontractor to other diversity trainers who may need some help with their transgender awareness module.

Training Sessions

Here are the details of the trans-awareness training options I currently offer which can be delivered either in person or virtually for small groups of around 15 people.  While these sessions can be delivered to a slightly larger audience, it’s best to stick to around 15 people for maximum engagement.  For much larger audiences, please see my inspirational Speaking packages.

FOR EVERYONE:

3 Hour Trans-awareness Session

Ideal for everyone, this training session gives in-depth information about all things trans.  It equips participants with the knowledge to really understand trans people and the vocabulary necessary to prevent them from inadvertently offending trans people.  I get the participants involved and treat it as more of a conversation rather than death by powerpoint!  The session consists of the following sections:

• Ice-breaker / assessment of prior knowledge
• Why is trans-awareness training needed?
• My Long Walk to Womanhood – This is the raw, emotional, educational and humorous story of my transgender transition, mixed with explanations of all things trans.  I give a full and frank account of my rollercoaster of a journey to be able to live my truth as the woman I have always been (but previously never allowed to show), after living for 48 years as a man.  I also speak about my background as a press photographer (photographing everything from wars and riots to royalty), the difficult decisions surrounding my photography and video business which was named after my old (male) name and how I ended up being a global speaker, presenter and trainer and being given incredible opportunities such as modelling on the catwalk at London Fashion Week.  My cheeky sense of humour has become a hallmark of all my presentations as I feel it is essential to entertain as well as to inform.  My story is the most powerful section upon which all my other presentations are built and I regularly see audiences both laugh and cry while I tell it.  It was recently described as “a masterclass in storytelling” and “Inspirational storytelling at its best.”) – This is the section that wins hearts and minds.
• Q&A about my journey 
• 15 minute break
• Trans terminology explained 
• Typical stages of a transgender journey
• Top tips for being a trans ally
• Q&A 

N.B.  Sections can be added if you wish to me tailor the workshop to a specific audience.

1.5 Hour Trans Awareness Session
Entitled “What’s it like to be transgender?  And how can I support those who are?”, this presentation uses the most powerful storytelling elements from my 3-hour training session and it gives the audience a very real appreciation for what life is like for trans people and practical tips for being an ally.  This is my most popular session and it is ideal for everyone.   The Q&A section makes it adaptable for all sectors too, as people in different professions tend to ask questions that are relevant to their particular role.  It was recently described as “the most interesting webinar so far and definitely the funniest”.   The presentation consists of the following sections:

• My Long Walk to Womanhood (as described above in my 3-hour session for everyone) – This is the section that wins hearts and minds.
  
• Top tips for being a trans ally
• Q&A 

1.5 Hour FOLLOW-UP Trans-awareness Session

This training session is ONLY for people who have already attended my 1.5-hour trans awareness session (“What’s it like to be Transgender.  And how can I support those who are?”) as it expands on the knowledge given in my first session.  It equips participants with the knowledge to really understand the transition process and the vocabulary necessary to prevent them from inadvertently offending trans people.  The session consists of the following sections:

• Why is trans-awareness training needed?
• Trans terminology explained
• Typical stages of a transgender journey
• Q&A

FOR LEADERS & HR PROFESSIONALS:

1.5 Hour Workshop: “How to make the workplace more trans-inclusive + My long walk to womanhood”

Aimed at leaders, diversity & inclusion managers, HR managers and training managers, this workshop gives a very real appreciation of what it’s like to be trans and the participants will leave with actionable ideas for how to make their workplace more trans-inclusive.  The workshop consists of the following sections:

• My long walk to womanhood (as described above, in my 3-hour session for everyone) – This is the section that wins hearts and minds.
• Why is trans awareness training needed?
• Examples of cases where employers have got it wrong
• Group discussion on ideas to help prevent trans discrimination in the workplace

45 Mins to 1 Hour Workshop: “How to make the workplace more trans-inclusive”

This short workshop is aimed at leaders, diversity & inclusion managers, HR managers and training managers who have already heard my story.  It gives actionable ideas for how to make their workplace more trans-inclusive, although it does not give an appreciation of what it’s like to be trans or any explanations of it and it does nothing to win  over hearts and minds.   I recommend a maximum number of 15 people for this session.  The workshop consists of the following sections:

• Who is Katie Neeves? (brief introduction)
• Why is trans awareness training needed?
• Examples of cases where employers have got it wrong
• Group discussion on ideas to help prevent trans discrimination in the workplace

FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS:

3.5 Hour Trans-awareness Session for Medical Professionals 
Ideal for medical professionals such as doctors, nurses, carers and specialist clinicians, this training session gives in-depth information about all things trans.  Given from a patient’s perspective, it equips participants with the knowledge to really understand trans people and the vocabulary necessary to prevent them from inadvertently offending trans patients.  The session consists of the following sections:

• Ice-breaker / assessment of prior knowledge (interactive)
• Why is trans-awareness training needed?
• My Long Walk to Womanhood (as described above, in my 3-hour session for everyone)  – This is the section that wins hearts and minds.
• Top tips for being a trans ally
• Q&A
• 15 minute break
• Trans terminology explained (interactive)
• Typical stages of a transgender journey
• The effects and risks of cross-sex hormone therapy
• Sensitivities and issues of trans patients
• Q&A

1 Hour Masterclass – Improving the patient experience for trans people 
Ideal for medical professionals such as doctors, nurses, carers and specialist clinicians, this short masterclass outlines issues to be aware of when treating trans patients.  Given from a patient’s perspective, it equips participants with the knowledge to really understand trans people and the vocabulary necessary to prevent them from inadvertently offending trans patients, although it does not win over hearts and minds.  A longer session which includes my story is necessary for that.   The session consists of the following sections:

• Top tips for being a trans ally
• The effects and risks of cross-sex hormone therapy
• Sensitivities and issues of trans patients
• Q&A

I use a lot of humour in my presentations and workshops as I believe that audiences should be both entertained & informed.  I am very honest and very open in my presentations too.  I will answer absolutely anything in my Q&A sections as I create a safe space for participants to ask me questions that they may not feel comfortable asking their trans colleagues, friends or relatives.

Some Lovely Feedback

Here are some comments and testimonials I recently received: