What Moving Ahead does

Moving Ahead Limited is a UK-based professional services company founded in 2014 by Liz Dimmock that designs and delivers structured mentoring, sponsorship, coaching, and leadership development programmes for large enterprises. Its mission is to accelerate business growth and innovation by advancing high-performance, inclusive cultures, and it serves clients including over a third of the FTSE 100, with a cumulative reach of 41,000+ mentors and mentees across 477 organisations, 70 countries and 30 sectors. The core product portfolio comprises three programme types: cross-company mentoring campaigns delivered with DE&I campaigns such as the 30% Club (Mission Gender Equity, Mission Include, Mission Include Americas, Executive Accelerator, Generation Valuable), bespoke in-company mentoring programmes, and sector-specific initiatives (Actuarial Mentoring Programme, Women in Rail, Women in Defence, Broadening Horizons, Women in Platinum Group Metals). Supporting offerings include Sponsorship Circles and 1:1 Sponsorship, individual and group Coaching, Inclusive Leadership workshops, a Speaker Academy, Faculty services, and proprietary research publications produced with Deloitte, J.P. Morgan, McKinsey, PwC, HSBC and Mizuho.

The company operates a professional services revenue model: programmes are quote-based and bespoke, with fees charged to organisations for end-to-end design and delivery including matching, onboarding, learning events, digital content and impact tracking. The go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales through dedicated Client Partners with channel-led acquisition via campaign partnerships (30% Club, Change the Race Ratio, Valuable 500, Progress Together, LGBT Great, Age Irrelevance) and industry-body partnerships (Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, Women in Rail, Women in Defence UK). Technology is not the company's core product: the only proprietary digital asset explicitly named is the 'Guide to Extraordinary Mentoring' toolkit of filmed sessions, masterclasses, tutorials and written guides, with no API, software platform or AI/ML capabilities disclosed. Headcount is approximately 20-25 employees based in Reading, UK, and the company is founder-led with Ann Cairns (former Mastercard EVP Chair) as Board Chair since September 2023 and Sir Trevor Phillips on the advisory board.

Name

Moving Ahead

Legal name

Moving Ahead Limited

Website

https://moving-ahead.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Moving Ahead is a UK-based professional services firm that designs and delivers structured mentoring, sponsorship, coaching, and leadership development programmes for large enterprises, partnering with the 30% Club and other DE&I campaigns to serve over a third of the FTSE 100.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Mentoring and Diversity & Inclusion Services

NAICS

Human Resources Consulting Services (541612), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Coaching Leadership & Mentoring Skills (EDABAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate & Leadership Development (BPACANAA), Inclusive Leadership & Leading Diverse Teams (EDABAAAM), Talent Management & Leadership Advisory (Succession, Performance, Culture) (BPACAJAH)

Keywords

• Cross-company mentoring
• Leadership development programmes
• Workplace inclusion services
• Sponsorship programmes
• Executive coaching services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Mentoring Programmes: Moving Ahead designs and delivers structured mentoring programmes including cross-company programmes, sector-specific programmes, and bespoke in-company programmes. Revenue is generated through programme fees charged to organizations for end-to-end design and delivery including matching mentors and mentees, onboarding participants, delivering learning events, providing digital learning materials and tracking impact.
2. Sponsorship Programmes: Sponsorship Circles (consisting of 1-2 sponsors, 6-8 sponsees) and 1:1 Sponsorship programmes that foster opportunities for organic connection, storytelling and advocacy with facilitators providing key development skills.
3. Coaching Services: Coaching programmes covering leadership and executive, career transition, maternity support, inclusion, and group coaching objectives, tailored to participant needs and organizational requirements.
4. Leadership Development Programmes: Immersive leadership programmes including showcase events, immersive learning events, virtual keynote sessions, mentoring groups, and digital learning content. Additional components include one-to-one coaching and sponsorship pairings.
5. Inclusive Leadership Workshops: Inclusive Leadership workshops and programmes including 'Inclusion matters', 'Inclusive leaders' series, and coaching and group work. Cultural inclusion reviews are also offered.
6. Speaker Academy: Pool of powerful storytellers, educators and facilitators available for internal events. Speakers are drawn from diverse backgrounds including Olympians, authors, industry leaders, and subject matter experts in DE&I.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Moving Ahead designs and delivers structured mentoring, sponsorship, coaching, and leadership development programmes for large enterprises and industry bodies. Their portfolio spans cross-company mentoring campaigns (e.g., Mission Gender Equity, Mission Include), bespoke in-company programmes, and sector-specific initiatives, complemented by Speaker Academy, Faculty, digital learning content, and proprietary research publications focused on diversity, equity and inclusion outcomes.

Product overview

Moving Ahead is a professional services company offering a portfolio of structured mentoring, sponsorship, and development programmes designed to accelerate business growth and innovation by advancing high-performance, inclusive cultures. The core product portfolio comprises three main programme types: Cross-Company Mentoring Programmes (including Mission Gender Equity, Mission Include, Mission Include Americas, Executive Accelerator, and Generation Valuable), Bespoke In-Company Mentoring Programmes, and Sector-Specific Mentoring Programmes (including Actuarial Mentoring Programme, Broadening Horizons, Women in Defence, Women in Rail, and Women in Platinum Group Metals). These are complemented by Sponsorship Programmes (Sponsorship Circles and 1:1 Sponsorship), Coaching Programmes, Leadership Development Programmes, and Inclusive Leadership Programmes. Additional supporting offerings include Speaker Academy (a pool of expert speakers and facilitators), Faculty Services, Digital Learning Content (Guide to Extraordinary Mentoring), Connect Newsletter, Extraordinary Stories (curated speaker selections), and Research Publications. The company has delivered programmes since 2014, matching over 41,000 mentors and mentees across 477 organisations and 70 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mission Gender Equity: The world's largest cross-company mentoring programme delivered in support of the 30% Club strategy, focusing on gender equity to build and strengthen pipelines for women in leadership and board roles.
• Mission Include
• Mission Include Americas
• Executive Accelerator
• Generation Valuable
• Actuarial Mentoring Programme
• Women in Rail
• Women in Defence
• Broadening Horizons
• Women in Platinum Group Metals
• Speaker Academy
• Connect Newsletter

Products and services

• Cross-Company Mentoring Programmes World's largest cross-company mentoring programmes where mentees are matched with senior mentors from different organisations and sectors, designed for large enterprises seeking cross-organisational learning and DE&I outcomes.
• Bespoke In-Company Mentoring Programmes Structured in-company mentoring programmes where colleagues within the same organisation mentor each other, designed around a specific purpose, goals and target audience including traditional, peer-to-peer, group, reverse, sponsorship, and diversity strand-specific formats.
• Sector-Specific Mentoring Programmes Cross-company mentoring programmes within specific industries where mentees are matched with mentors from different organisations in the same sector, leveraging diverse perspectives to create industry-wide impact.
• Sponsorship Programmes Structured sponsorship programmes where sponsors actively support high-potential sponsees through Sponsorship Circles (1-2 sponsors with 6-8 sponsees) and 1:1 Sponsorship formats, fostering advocacy and career progression.
• Coaching Programmes Coaching programmes covering leadership and executive, career transition, maternity support, inclusion, and group coaching objectives, tailored to participant needs and organisational requirements.
• Inclusive Leadership Programmes Workshops and programmes equipping leaders with awareness, motivation and skills for inclusive conversations, exploring fundamentals of inclusion, privilege, power and paradox to create lasting cultural change.
• Leadership Development Programmes Immersive leadership programmes including showcase events, immersive learning events, virtual keynote sessions, mentoring groups, digital learning content, one-to-one coaching and sponsorship pairings to inspire personal development and challenge mindsets.
• Speaker Academy A paid pool of storytellers, educators and facilitators drawn from diverse backgrounds including Olympians, authors, industry leaders and DE&I subject matter experts, available for client internal events and inclusion celebrations.
• Actuarial Mentoring Programme (AMP) A ready-to-go, proven mentoring programme to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the actuarial sector, supported by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries and sponsored by Pension Insurance Corporation plc.
• Broadening Horizons Cross-sector mentoring programme designed to support, develop and empower early-career researchers interested in translational research, jointly funded by Cancer Research Horizons and Wellcome.
• Mission Gender Equity World's largest cross-company mentoring programme delivered in support of the 30% Club strategy, focusing on gender parity to build and strengthen pipelines for women in leadership and board roles.
• Mission Include Award-winning cross-company mentoring programme delivered in partnership with 30% Club, Change the Race Ratio, Valuable 500, Age Irrelevance, Progress Together and LGBT Great to advance talent from underrepresented groups.
• Executive Accelerator First-of-its-kind cross-company, cross-sector programme where executive pipeline women are supported and mentored by a Non-Executive Director or Chair to accelerate advancement into executive leadership roles.
• Generation Valuable Global mentoring programme designed to revolutionise the leadership landscape by empowering rising disabled talent, delivered in partnership with the Valuable 500.

Quantifiable outcome

• 47% of Mission Gender Equity mentees secured at least one promotion within three years (2018-19 cohort)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers31 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• 30% ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoving Ahead has been delivering the 30% Club cross-company mentoring programmes since 2014, which has grown to become the world's largest of its kind. Ann Cairns, former global chair of 30% Club, was appointed chair of Moving Ahead's board in 2023. The partnership focuses on gender diversity in leadership.
• DeloittecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership conducting 'Turning the gender diversity dial' research using a 'theory meets practice' approach combining academic literature review with real-world mentoring experiences for gender equity.
• J.P. MorgancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for 'Advancing Female Entrepreneurialism' research examining barriers holding women back from entrepreneurship and interventions that can help them succeed, conducted in London, Paris and Frankfurt/Berlin.
• McKinsey & CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for 'Advancing Female Entrepreneurialism' research examining barriers holding women back from entrepreneurship and interventions that can help them succeed.
• PwCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for 'Networks that work' research examining effectiveness of employee networks in improving diversity and inclusion, overlaying qualitative research with neuroscientific understanding of workplace.
• HSBCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for 'Networks that work' research examining how employee networks can shape and create inclusive organizational culture.
• Mizuho InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for 'A well new world' research on workplace wellbeing as vital element in diversity, inclusion and equity landscape.
• Change the Race RatiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBI campaign partner for Mission Include programme advancing talent from underrepresented groups. Also partner for Leaders for Race Equality CEO cross-company programme.
• Valuable 500coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Mission Include programme and Generation Valuable mentoring programme revolutionizing leadership landscape by empowering rising disabled talent.
• Age IrrelevancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Mission Include programme advancing all talent, including age diversity initiatives.
• Progress TogethercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Mission Include programme supporting advancement of talent from underrepresented groups.
• LGBT GreatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Mission Include programme advancing LGBTQ+ talent in the workplace.
• Institute and Faculty of ActuariescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting body for the Actuarial Mentoring Programme (AMP), a proven practical programme advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the actuarial sector on a global scale.
• Women in RailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-company mentoring programme partner providing sustainable, scalable support platform for people in UK rail to grow and actively supporting Women in Rail charter commitments.
• Women in Defence UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Women in Defence mentoring programme matching mentors and mentees from defence public sector with those from defence private sector.
• WellcomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint funder of Broadening Horizons cross-sector mentoring programme designed to support early-career researchers interested in translational research.
• Cancer Research HorizonscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint funder of Broadening Horizons cross-sector mentoring programme designed to support early-career researchers interested in translational research.
• Sir Trevor PhillipscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer chair of Equality and Human Rights Commission joins Moving Ahead advisory board, contributing to long-term strategy around data as Moving Ahead aims to exponentially grow its reach and impact.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BetterUp: US-headquartered enterprise coaching and mentoring platform combining 1:1 coaching, AI-driven matching, and measurement. Directly comparable to Moving Ahead on enterprise mentoring/coaching delivery, with a heavier technology stack and global reach into the same Fortune 500 / FTSE buyer.
• MentorCloud: Enterprise mentoring SaaS platform offering matching, programme management, and analytics. Comparable to Moving Ahead's bespoke in-company offering on the technology-enabled, self-serve side, and a credible substitute for buyers looking to bring mentoring delivery in-house.

Broad incumbents

• Center for Creative Leadership: Non-profit leadership development provider with research-led programmes, open-enrolment, and custom enterprise offerings. Comparable to Moving Ahead in outcome measurement, research publications, and bespoke enterprise leadership programme design.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a dedicated Leadership Advisory practice spanning coaching, succession, and DE&I. Comparable as a high-touch enterprise leadership and DE&I services provider to the same FTSE / Fortune buyer Moving Ahead serves.
• DDI (Development Dimensions International): Long-established leadership development consultancy offering assessments, training, and coaching to large enterprises. Comparable on the leadership development and behavioural assessment side, with a research-driven, multi-product approach analogous to Moving Ahead's methodology and outcome-tracking.
• Korn Ferry: Global organisational consulting firm with a large leadership development and executive coaching practice. Comparable to Moving Ahead as a buyer of large-enterprise leadership and talent programmes, but operates across a much wider portfolio (search, RPO, consulting) rather than specialising in cross-company mentoring.

Regional players

• Lane4: UK-based leadership and team development consultancy with a strong focus on performance, inclusion, and high-performance cultures. Directly comparable to Moving Ahead in the UK enterprise segment, with a similarly bespoke, human-led delivery model rather than a software product.
• Roffey Park Institute: UK-based leadership development and organisational research institute offering open programmes, custom enterprise work, and published research. Comparable to Moving Ahead on the leadership development, research, and FTSE-buyer intersection in the UK.

Emerging players

• Guider: UK-based mentoring software provider offering matching, reporting, and content libraries to enterprise customers. Directly comparable to Moving Ahead's in-company mentoring programmes on the technology side, and a credible competitor for the same mid-market and FTSE buyer on cost-per-participant grounds.
• Mentorloop: Mentoring software platform focused on enterprise and SME deployments, including DE&I use cases. A technology-led emerging alternative to Moving Ahead's bespoke delivery, particularly for buyers prioritising scale and self-serve over human facilitation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/moving-ahead
• Xx.com/_movingahead

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Moving Ahead