Leasing Foundation leads asset finance industry return to London Pride

The Leasing Foundation will return to London Pride this weekend, building on the success of its landmark debut in 2025 as colleagues from across the asset finance and leasing industry once again march together in support of LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Around 50 participants representing organisations from across the sector will take part in the Pride in London parade, demonstrating the industry’s continued commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

This year’s initiative is being supported by a number of organisations from across the industry. Champion contributors include Shoosmiths and Alfa, while Close Brothers and Novuna are supporting as Ally supporters. Finance Connect, Liberty Leasing, Lombard, Praetura and Solaris Law are all supporting as Pride partners.

Shoosmiths will also sponsor the group’s pre-Pride gathering ahead of the march.

The initiative is being coordinated by the Leasing Foundation’s DEI group, with Jamie Thomas, architect at Alfa, and Lewis Banford of Liberty Leasing co-leading this year’s Pride initiative as the industry returns to the parade for a second consecutive year.

Following the industry’s first-ever participation last year, Jamie Thomas said one of the biggest lessons was discovering just how willing people were to support the initiative.

“It was a lot of work,” he said. “But a lot of the work we did for the first time last year has helped us this year. I also learnt how eager the industry is to show up and help. It’s been a real group effort involving people from the Leasing Foundation, Alfa, Shoosmiths and Liberty Leasing. Everyone I’ve reached out to has gone above and beyond to help make the event a success.”

While Pride is often associated with celebration, Thomas believes this year’s event carries added significance.

“We unfortunately are living through times where progress in LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion is, at best, paused, but realistically is moving backwards,” he said. “Pride is a protest and always has been. With all of the anti-trans sentiment and policy changes in politics and the media over the last year, especially surrounding the Supreme Court ruling, I think it’s never been more important for workplaces to reaffirm their commitment to protecting their LGBTQ+ employees.”

Thomas highlighted how wider political developments have reinforced the importance of visible allyship. Having joined the asset finance industry in 2016, he pointed to research from ILGA-Europe showing the UK’s ranking for LGBTQ+ equality has fallen from third place in Europe in 2016 with a score of 82% to 22nd place with a score of 44% in 2026.

“It would be naive to say our industry is totally immune from all this,” he said. “But the conversations I’ve been having remain positive. In fact, the consensus is that, in light of the current political situation, it’s more important than ever to be visible and for companies to reaffirm their commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion. That’s why it’s so special to see companies participating in Pride this year doing exactly that.”

For Thomas, the value of the initiative extends beyond the parade itself.

“Regardless of whether our industry is associated with public diversity initiatives or not, we are undeniably an industry in which LGBTQ+ people exist,” he said. “It’s great to be showing the world where our industry stands on LGBTQ+ equality, but the importance of that is overshadowed by showing LGBTQ+ people within our industry where we stand. They need to know they are welcome.”

He believes the collective backing from businesses across the sector sends an important message at a time when some organisations internationally are scaling back DEI initiatives.

“All of the companies joining the Leasing Foundation at Pride this year are publicly stating: ‘This is still important to us. You are still important to us.’ I think the message that sends to LGBTQ+ people in our industry is really necessary right now.”

For those taking part for the first time, Thomas says the experience is unlike simply watching the parade from the sidelines.

“People can expect a lot of partying and a lot of people, with more than a million expected to attend,” he said. “Watching the parade is great, but marching is a totally different experience. To see so many people celebrating you is incredibly touching. It’s a really moving day.”

Having established the industry’s Pride presence in 2025, the focus this year is on making it a lasting tradition.

“Last year was such a success that we’d be happy just to recreate it,” Thomas said. “But I’m sure this will now become an annual fixture. I’d love to see the marching group grow from the current 50 marchers to 75, 100, maybe more.”

Looking beyond Pride, Thomas encouraged organisations that want to strengthen inclusion but are unsure where to begin to seek support from the Leasing Foundation’s DEI group.

“The DEI group exists exactly to help companies who want help with this sort of thing,” he said.

Reflecting on what marching alongside colleagues from across the industry means personally, Thomas said it is about much more than enjoying a day together.

“On a surface level, it’s a great day out with colleagues from across the industry. But on a deeper level, it feels important – profound, almost – to be doing this for only the second time and sending the message together that LGBTQ+ people are welcome in this industry.”

His message to the wider industry is clear:

“It is not enough to sit back and assume that LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality will happen. In a country and a world where things are moving in the opposite direction, it’s never been more important to show up for LGBTQ+ people in our sector and to show them that they are valued and, most of all, that they are welcome.”