Access All AreasArena Group sustainability and CSR Lead Joely Sockett outlines how the company’s engagement with, and sponsorship of, the Network of Women in Events’ (NOWIE) Level Up programme has had a transformational impact at the Arena Group.
When Arena came on board as a sponsor of the NOWIE Level Up mentorship programme, we knew we’d be contributing to something important.
The initiative, created to support women in the events sector, pairs mentees with experienced mentors to help them grow their careers, expand their networks, and build confidence in an industry where representation and inclusion remain a work in progress. We didn’t anticipate how much the experience would act as a catalyst for change in the very DNA of our business.
At its core, Level Up is about progress, both for the women participating in the scheme and the industry as a whole. With our colleagues getting involved in the process, Emma Rainbow serving as a mentor, and Ella Shinkwin joining the cohort as a mentee, we had a front-row seat to the impact of the programme. Not only is mentorship a two-way street where both parties stand to learn a great deal from one another, but the effect extends far beyond this, rippling into their wider communities, social circles, and, in our case, workplaces.
Through Emma and Ella’s involvement and our ongoing engagement with NOWIE, the extent of our responsibility as partners became clear — supporting from the sidelines was not enough. We were determined to learn, both through the eyes of our colleagues and as a business, how we could level up our commitment to gender equality and improve the environment for the women in our team.
Over the past year, Arena has implemented several tangible changes driven by our participation in the programme and inspired by NOWIE’s recommendations.
We’ve launched an internal Arena Internal NOWIE Steering Group to keep momentum moving in the right direction. This group provides a platform for staff at all levels to challenge the status quo, propose ideas, and hold leadership accountable for meaningful progress.
We’ve overhauled our approach to workplace attire, introducing a new women’s uniform designed for practicality, comfort, and parity.
Our internal policies have been updated to better reflect the lived experiences of our staff. From improved processes on sexual harassment and flexible working to supportive frameworks around periods, menopause, and maternity, we’ve tried to make sure our policies reflect the reality of our workforce.
Free period products are now available in all site toilets. Lighting audits are underway to improve staff safety after hours. We’ve even created a toolkit to help our teams recognise and challenge inappropriate behaviour quickly and confidently.
Supporting Level Up didn’t just align with our values; it helped shape them, giving us a clearer vision of what kind of employer we want to be and the kind of industry we want to help build. As the programme draws to a close, we remain incredibly proud of our involvement and even more committed to the journey ahead. Supporting NOWIE’s Level Up programme has been a meaningful investment in the future of events and a catalyst for change within Arena — and we are determined to continue this evolution long into the future.