We tend to take being able to come to work FOH, BOH or Management as ourselves for granted.

However, living with mental illness or the stress of living inside ourselves as a different person to the one we bring to work isn’t something we can always identify with. But that was the reality for Emily Hamilton for most of her working life. Until 2019, when she came out.

“I knew something was very different about me when I was six years old,” says Emily. “By the time I was eleven I knew that I was trans.”

Emily is Vice President of Strategic Change at RS Components who provide PPE to the hospitality community and Director of Trans in the City. She has joined us on The Burnt Chef Journal to discuss the topic of diversity and inclusion as we spoke, and I learned more about, LGBTQ+ and more specifically what it's like to live life as a trans woman.

Emily and I discuss the importance of having a supportive employer whilst we also open up conversations around this important subject so that we share with you and work towards further improvements our industry.

Thank you for your time Emily and valuable insight!