Best Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Consulting Services in the UK

United Kingdom Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Consultants

DEI is no longer just a box-ticking exercise for UK organisations, it’s a strategic, measurable commitment to building equitable workplaces. Across Britain, trailblazing DEI consultancies are helping businesses of every size shape more inclusive cultures that deliver real results for people and profit alike.

This curated guide highlights standout UK-based outsourced, part-time, fractional, and virtual DEI consultancies each handpicked for authentic frameworks, verified impact, and bold leadership.

Methodology: How We Chose These UK-Based Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Consulting Services

✅ Research-Driven: Every firm shows a transparent track record of practical frameworks, thought leadership, and public case studies.

✅ Client-Reviewed: We checked for real client stories, results, and social proof beyond marketing fluff.

✅ Location-Based: All providers are founded and operating within the UK, deeply rooted in local contexts and industries.

🌟 DEI Consulting Provider Spotlights:

The Inclusion Imperative

🔗 Website: https://www.theinclusionimperative.com/

What They Do:
The Inclusion Imperative leads strategic DEI work with a focus on LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion. They craft practical frameworks for organisations to improve policies, benefits, and everyday culture. They’re known for impactful allyship programs that move beyond rainbow branding. While they started off in the UK, their DEI practices and frameworks now extend into Canada and the U.S., offering globally relevant guidance with local insight.

Who They Work With:
Financial services, legal firms, corporates, and professional associations.

Operating Model:
Advisory retainers, policy reviews, allyship training, ERG development, and executive coaching.

💡 Why They Stand Out:

• 🏳️‍🌈 Deep LGBTQ+ inclusion expertise with practical frameworks
  
  
• 📢 Trusted by high-profile industry networks and media outlets
  
  
• 🧩 Custom ERG and allyship program design

Geffrye Parsons, Founder, The Inclusion Imperative

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geffrye-parsons/

Geffrye Parsons is a former corporate finance leader turned LGBTQ+ inclusion champion. He’s won multiple awards for his leadership in building psychologically safe workplaces. Geffrye frequently appears in national media to advocate for authentic inclusion. Now based in Vancouver, Canada, Geffrye continues to lead DEI work across the UK and the U.S., bringing a global perspective to local workplace challenges.

Equity Architects

🔗 Website: https://www.equityarchitect.co/

What They Do:
Equity Architects helps companies translate big DEI commitments into daily practice. They specialise in anti-racism, governance-level strategy, and community-informed policy design. They back this with robust measurement tools that keep progress visible.

Who They Work With:
Public sector bodies, non-profits, universities, and mission-driven businesses.

Operating Model:
Project-based consulting, co-design workshops, governance advisory, and board facilitation.

💡 Why They Stand Out:

• 🏛️ Expert in policy-level change and anti-racism work
  
  
• 📚 Resource libraries and toolkits for clients to maintain momentum
  
  
• 📈 Practical frameworks that make inclusion measurable and sustainable

Chelsea Jackson, Founder, Equity Architects

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-a-jackson/

Chelsea Jackson is a policy strategist and governance advisor with deep expertise in public equity initiatives. She’s widely recognised for her ability to bridge policy and everyday practice. Chelsea regularly contributes to national inclusion standards and legislative advisory boards.

Diversity Study Group

🔗 Website: https://diversitystudygroup.com/

What They Do:
Diversity Study Group is the first consultancy dedicated solely to advancing DEI in shipping, maritime, and global supply chain sectors. They run industry-wide research, benchmarking, and targeted training to transform historically traditional spaces. They’re trusted for opening up tough conversations in male-dominated industries.

Who They Work With:
Shipping lines, logistics companies, port operators, and global supply chain stakeholders.

Operating Model:
Annual membership for benchmarking, research-led consulting, bespoke workshops, and speaking programs.

💡 Why They Stand Out:

• ⚓ Only DEI consultancy fully specialised in maritime
  
  
• 📊 Annual diversity indexes influence industry policy
  
  
• 🌍 Bridges operational realities with achievable inclusion goals

Heidi Heseltine, Founder, Diversity Study Group

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiheseltine/

Heidi Heseltine is an industry champion for inclusion in global maritime. She’s built one of the largest datasets benchmarking diversity in the shipping world. Heidi frequently advises international boards and hosts panels pushing the industry forward.

Adlam Consulting Ltd

🔗 Website: https://www.adlam.com/

What They Do:
Adlam Consulting Ltd delivers robust DEI audits, inclusive leadership training, and governance strategy for regulated industries. They make DEI practical for sectors under intense compliance pressure. Their data-driven approach helps clients justify change in risk-averse environments.

Who They Work With:
Legal, finance, insurance, and professional services.

Operating Model:
Advisory projects, leadership coaching, workshops for senior managers, and policy drafting.

💡 Why They Stand Out:

• 📊 Deep expertise in embedding DEI into compliance frameworks
  
  
• 🏢 Known for helping regulated firms prove ROI to boards
  
  
• ✏️ Practical training that demystifies jargon-heavy policy

Lyndy Adlam FCA (NZ), Founder, Adlam Consulting Ltd

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndy-adlam-fca-nz-98b179/

Lyndy Adlam is a chartered governance expert who has held senior board advisory roles across the UK and New Zealand. She’s respected for her methodical approach to policy compliance and inclusive leadership. Lyndy mentors emerging DEI leads in regulated industries.

Performance and Engagement®

🔗 Website: https://performanceandengagement.com/

What They Do:
Performance and Engagement® connects the dots between DEI and broader culture metrics like psychological safety. They help clients measure inclusion alongside engagement to make progress visible to boards. Their coaching and survey tools are designed to boost trust and retention.

Who They Work With:
Retail, hospitality, SMEs scaling fast, and corporates wanting deeper pulse checks.

Operating Model:
Diagnostics and benchmark tools, fractional DEI officer services, leadership workshops, and culture action plans.

💡 Why They Stand Out:

• 📈 Unique benchmark tools tracking both inclusion and engagement
  
  
• 🧭 Fractional DEI model for flexible scaling
  
  
• 🔁 Hands-on coaching that turns survey results into real change

Esther Crew, Founder, Performance and Engagement®

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esther-crew/

Esther Crew is a trusted voice on building trust-driven workplaces. She’s designed frameworks that link DEI to commercial KPIs. Esther has worked with national brands to rebuild trust after crisis moments and drive measurable culture shifts.

Same But Different Consultancy

🔗 Website: https://www.sbd-consultancy.com/

What They Do:
Same But Different Consultancy champions inclusion for the creative, media, and advertising industries. They help brands audit bias in campaigns and train teams to tell diverse stories responsibly. Clients turn to them to make external marketing align with internal culture.

Who They Work With:
Media production houses, ad agencies, broadcasters, and brand marketing teams.

Operating Model:
Bias auditing, creative team workshops, narrative framework design, and long-term storytelling partnerships.

💡 Why They Stand Out:

• 🎥 Experts in weaving DEI into brand stories and campaigns
  
  
• 📢 Strong focus on authentic representation in public messaging
  
  
• 🧩 Works at the intersection of internal culture and outward-facing content

Polina Changuleva, Founder, Same But Different Consultancy

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/polinachanguleva/

Polina Changuleva is a social impact consultant and former media strategist. She’s built her reputation guiding brands on inclusive narratives that resonate. Polina is also known for thought leadership on diversity in digital storytelling and content ethics.

INBRACE TALENT

🔗 Website: https://www.inbracetalent.com/

What They Do:
INBRACE TALENT helps companies recruit, retain, and nurture diverse teams at every level. They break down hiring barriers through bias training and inclusive pipeline design. They also stay engaged post-hire to help new talent thrive.

Who They Work With:
Tech scale-ups, creative agencies, and corporates tackling representation in mid-to-senior roles.

Operating Model:
Inclusive recruitment strategy, bias interrupter workshops, talent pipeline design, and retention consulting.

💡 Why They Stand Out:

• 🚀 Well-known for bias interrupter training for hiring managers
  
  
• ⚙️ Bridges recruitment with onboarding and retention plans
  
  
• 🧩 Proven success helping companies diversify leadership benches

Luiza Barwood, Founder, INBRACE TALENT

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luizabarwood/

Luiza Barwood is a seasoned DEI talent strategist who built inclusive hiring playbooks for high-growth tech firms. She’s widely trusted for transforming recruitment touchpoints into equitable experiences. Luiza also speaks on future-of-talent trends for DEI in UK startups.

Bringing It All Together

Building a diverse and inclusive workplace is not just about meeting standards, it's about creating environments where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. The best DEI consulting services in the UK offer the tools, training, and strategies to make that vision a reality. From addressing unconscious bias and improving inclusive leadership to implementing equitable policies, these consultants bring proven frameworks tailored to your organisation's unique needs. In an increasingly global and multicultural workforce, investing in DEI is no longer optional, it’s essential for sustainable growth.

At Digital Reference, we feature the UK’s DEI consulting experts dedicated to fostering inclusive, equitable, and diverse workplaces with tailored strategies that align with your organisation’s goals

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Empower your organisation to lead with inclusion and equity, find the right consulting support through Digital Reference. Let’s keep building workplaces where everyone truly belongs.

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