Beyond the stage - How AEG Europe built an inclusive top 50 workplace from the ground up

AEG Europe – the live entertainment leader behind The O2, Accor Arena and major festivals like BST Hyde Park – has been recognised as one of the Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers for 2025/26. Kirstie Loveridge, Chief People Officer, AEG International discusses how the business has embedded inclusion at every level within the organisation.

Kirstie Loveridge

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Chief People Officer, AEG International

What key initiatives has AEG pioneered to establish itself as a leading-edge inclusive employer?

When we talk about becoming a leading-edge inclusive employer, it’s really about the practical things we’ve put in place to make AEG a fairer, safer and more supportive place to work. There’s no one landmark initiative or announcement, but a series of deliberate, steady and meaningful commitments made at every level. Inclusion is so deeply embedded into who we are as an organisation at this point that it is integral with our culture.

I believe that meaningful ED&I progress starts from listening to our people. Our annual colleague survey helps us understand how supported and included our teams feel. Detailed results and learnings from these surveys have helped us implement a long-term strategy to embed inclusion across our culture.

That listening has translated into real action. We’ve reshaped how we recruit through our diverse recruitment charter – introducing anonymised applications, diverse interview panels and inclusion training for hiring managers – and strengthened how we support people once they join, with enhanced family leave, clearer development pathways, menopause support guidance and neuroinclusive workplace practices.

Our employee network groups continue to influence meaningful change across policies and culture, and our partnerships with organisations like BYP, Bridge Creative, WiHTL and we show the salary help open doors for underrepresented communities. Most recently, we launched our industry-first Speak Safe Ambassadors programme, creating a trained network of colleagues on the ground to support with harassment, bullying and safeguarding concerns.

Together, these initiatives are helping us build a workplace where fairness, safety and opportunity are embedded into everyday life at AEG.