Milton Keynes, 10 September 2025 – Volkswagen Group UK (VWG) is proud to return as the Main Stage sponsor of the Milton Keynes Pride Festival, celebrating diversity, inclusion, and community for the fifth consecutive year. The free-to-enter festival will take place at Campbell Park, Milton Keynes, from 12 noon on Saturday, 13 September, bringing together residents, visitors, and LGBTQ+ supporters for a day of celebration, learning, and connection.
VWG’s involvement goes beyond sponsorship. At the festival, the Group will host its own interactive stand featuring giveaways, competitions, and two headline vehicles that embody the spirit of belonging: the Škoda Elroq Respectline and the Bentley Unifying Spur, provided in collaboration with Bentley’s BeProud colleague network in Crewe. These vehicles serve as a bold statement of VWG’s commitment to inclusivity, reflecting both style and purpose.
“At Volkswagen Group UK, our support for Milton Keynes Pride Festival is more than symbolic; it’s a celebration of who we are and what we stand for,” said Sima Ballard, Co-Chair of We Drive Proud UK, the Group’s LGBTQ+ Employee Network Group. “Being part of the festival in such a hands-on way, both through sponsorship and the incredible involvement of our colleagues, means a great deal to us and to the LGBTQ+ community here in Milton Keynes.”
The festival plays a vital role in the local community by providing a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQ+ people. Its reach extends further, supporting initiatives such as educational development programmes, youth groups, and Q:Alliance, a local LGBTQ+ charity. For VWG employees, hosting the stand offers an opportunity to engage with the community and showcase Volkswagen Group UK as a workplace that is inclusive, supportive, and welcoming.
Volkswagen Group UK holds the Inclusive Employers’ Gold standard accreditation—the highest level of recognition and a first in the UK automotive sector—highlighting its long-standing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I). Central to this commitment are Employee Network Groups like We Drive Proud, which champion LGBTQ+ inclusion across the organisation and help foster a culture of respect and belonging.
Sima Ballard added: “We’re really looking forward to the weekend. Over the past five years, we’ve seen the event and our presence grow and grow, and we can’t wait to meet new people there!”
