The European project ‘Transcending Barriers: Promoting Trans Inclusion in the Workplace’ is now in full swing with an international and national training programme aimed at human resources professionals and managers in Bulgaria, Italy, Lithuania and Spain.
The initiative aims to improve working conditions for trans* and non-binary people and to raise awareness across various employment sectors through training courses based on the findings of the project’s research.
The training sessions, which are free of charge, employ participatory and experiential learning methods, including collaborative exercises, guided reflection, facilitated discussions, role-plays and collective problem-solving, all adapted to the national contexts. Recognising the vital role of leadership in promoting sustainable change, the programme also encourages the participation of CEOs and senior managers.
Evidence-based training in response to identified needs
The training curriculum is based on a transnational study conducted at the start of the project, which combined surveys and interviews with HR professionals, managers, and trans* and non-binary people in all four participating countries.
The findings highlighted a clear gap between organisational policies and everyday realities in the workplace, emphasising the need for practical tools and targeted training to support more inclusive environments.
The Italian report (L. Bugatti, E. Togni, Transcending Barriers: Promoting Trans Inclusion in the Workplace – ITALY, 2025) is available here: https://workitout.bg/transcending-barriers/resources/
Seven priority areas of training
The programme focuses on seven key areas:
- Understanding gender diversity and bias in HR decision-making processes
- Regulatory framework and rights
- Workplace experiences and the prevention of discrimination
- Inclusive recruitment practices
- Inclusive workplace culture and management
- Benefits of inclusive workplaces
- Development of organisational protocols and inclusion plans
“The research shows that many organisations intend to be inclusive, but often lack the practical knowledge and tools needed to support trans and non-binary people in everyday work situations. This training aims to turn intentions into concrete actions, equipping professionals with the skills to create environments where people can be visible, safe and valued,” said Simeon Vasilev, President of the GLAS Foundation, one of the project’s partners.
Next steps
Following an initial European ‘Training of Trainers’ (ToT) session, hosted by the University of Brescia (UNIBS) and organised in collaboration with ADL (https://www.adl-zavidovici.eu/progetti/cerv-trascending-barriers/), the training programme is now being rolled out across the partner countries. The training programme, which began in Brescia on 25 May, includes further national events on 29 and 30 October, in Catania and Riesi respectively. Similar initiatives are currently underway in Bulgaria, Spain and Lithuania. HR professionals, managers, CEOs and executives who are interested can take part free of charge.
Through these activities, the Transcending Barriers project supports organisations in moving beyond policies on paper and translating commitments to equality into concrete actions, fostering safer and more inclusive workplaces across Europe.
The project, coordinated by the University of Brescia – Department of Law and co-funded by the European Union under the CERV-2023-EQUAL call for proposals, was launched in February 2025. The UniBs team involved in the coordination comprises Dr Laura Bugatti, Prof. Matteo Frau, Prof. Francesca Malzani and Dr Elena Togni.
For further information: https://workitout.bg/transcending-barriers/
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