Marcus Watson Email & Phone Number

London, England, Gb

Fat Beehive is the UKs leading digital agency serving the Third Sector. We build wonderful open-source websites, beautiful brands and delightful digital products for organisations committed to social good. We have a particular specialism in charity web design, but we also work with other organisations that share our values.I joined as CEO in 2018 and helped to enhance and amplify the good work already being undertaken - expanding our branding and visual identity work. Improving our Information Security with ISO 27001 accreditation; improving staff benefits and getting listed as the UKs 8th Best Place to Work in 2019; opening an office in Manchester; partnering with the Leonard Cheshire Change100 programme to offer disabled graduates paid internships; making our operations carbon neutral and even offsetting the carbon produced by the staff and being a champion for increasing diversity in tech.I am most proud of setting up the Fat Beehive Foundation, to support small charities improve their digital presence; getting accredited as a BCorps with a score that puts us in the top 5% of companies globally and our partnership with Code4000, teaching prisoners coding and training them up to be superb developers to join our fantastic team.

Volunteer mentor on Manchester’s business mentor programme for early stage technology companies. Paying it forward to help Manchester’s next generation of tech entrepreneurs. Working with start-up companies for 12 months to help support them as they develop their business idea to launch. https://techmanchester.co.uk/mentoring https://www.youtube.com/c/TechManchester

Croydon, London, Gb

As councillor and Cabinet Member I took the lead in Croydon’s ground-breaking work on digital exclusion, and palyed a key role in developing innovative ideas to elevate Croydon’s digital skill base. As an advocate for equalities, I increased opportunities for community groups across the borough, is key in the Local Authority’s efforts to reduce social isolation, through maximisation of digital skills. I was first elected to the council in May 2002 and joined the Cabinet in 2003 as held a number of snior posts including cabinet member for equalities and community partnerships, safety and justice, communities and the e-government champion. I ensured Croydon was recognised for Beacon Status for Getting closer to communities in 2007 and set up Europe’s first Family Justice Centre in Croydon in 2005, which provides joined up services supporting those suffering from domestic abuse. I was the White Ribbon Champion for Croydon and led the Boroughs efforts to end violence against women.

Tourism Concern was a unique independent charity dedicated to campaigning for ethical and fairly traded tourism. The charity campaigned against exploitation, raised awareness with tourists and promoted small tourism social enterprises via its ethical travel guide.

I was a founding Trustee of the Kaleidoscope Trust which we established in 2011, and is a UK-based charity focused on fighting for the human rights of LGBT+ people across the Commonwealth. We fund, fight for and empower those upholding the human rights of LGBT+ people by working with governments, change-makers and civil society organisations to effect meaningful and lasting change in the lives of LGBT+ people everywhere.

I set up Equal Planet Ltd to offer a range of consulting services to help clients improve their performance, adopt equalities best practice or improve their sustainability profile. Performance; People; Planet. I offer interim management solutions focused on equalities, public affairs, digital and social media, communications, change management, sustainability, digital transformation and change management. .

I founded the UK Foundation for AIDS Research (UKfAR) in Aug 2009 to meet the needs of people living with HIV in the UK, especially as they age. UKfAR is a member led charity that actively involves those living with HIV in order that they can influence research that is most relevant to them.Objective“The advancement of education, for the public benefit, through supporting and funding research into preserving the health and improving the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS, and to publish and disseminate the useful results thereof.”Why UKfAR?Although there are numerous excellent HIV charities in the UK nearly all concentrate on support, HIV prevention, policy or providing information. Unlike the USA or Canada there are few UK based charities that are raising funds to support medical research into improving the health and quality of life of those living with HIV in the UK[1] . Furthermore there are no specific HIV charities that actively seek to involve those living with HIV in order that they can influence research that is most relevant to them.Research is continuing into new drug treatments, possible vaccines and potential cures. Comparatively little research however is focussed on how to improve the lives of those living with HIV and on existing therapies. UKfAR raises funds to support research that could improve the health and quality of life of those living with HIV.Research will be guided by people living with HIV. Though the foundation’s grants will be made available only for robust science-based research, people living with HIV will take the lead in deciding the areas of investigation, bringing their experience, concerns and objectives to bear. UKfAR will not duplicate the work of existing research programmes, or the organisations or agencies behind them. Instead it will augment and complement that vital research, helping HIV-positive people determine what additional interventions might work for them.

London, London, Gb

One Planet Products offered members a quick and easy way to find reliable green suppliers and eco-productsI launched One Planet Products as a new service to help construction professionals specify sustainable products and services quickly and easily without the need to carry out often expensive and time consuming research.

Us

I launched Gay.com in 2000 after leaving Stonewall. I took over as the Managing Director in 2001 and successfully led the company through the dot.com bubble burst and won Best Consumer Website at the New Media Age awards in 2002. The site became the UKs biggest LGBT+ community website with a turnover close to £1million generated through memberships and advertising and connected thousands of people across the UK.

London, England, Gb

In 1992 I joined the Stonewall Immigration Group, which at the time was a few couples seeking advice on how to remain together. At the time the Home Office allowed heterosexual men to bring a mistress into the country (even if they were married here) but refused to recognise loving same-sex relationships regardless of how long they had been together. I formed the organisation into a professional group that provided daily telephone advice and monthly meetings attended by 200 couples with two of the greatest people i've ever worked with (Wesley Gryk and Matthew Davies). I led the campaign to keep couples together and lobbied ministers to recognise same-sex relations. The campaign took a very difficult subject (gay immigration) and humanised it to the point that in five years not a single couple we advised were separated and in 1997 same-sex relationships were recognised for the very first time in law and the changes to immigration law were the first positive legislation change since 1967. The BBC made a documentary on

London, Greater London, Gb

When I joined Stonewall 85% of the British public thought same-sex relationships were wrong - when I left Stonewall in 2000 this had decreased to 55% - additionally LGBT people were allowed to serve in the armed forces, we had an equal age of consent, gay couples were recognized for the first time in law, adoption rights had been established, people were not routinely sacked for being gay, the police were less homophobic and for the first time the LGBT community had a professional voice to stand up to bigotry and discrimination. When I joined Stonewall we were based in a small office in Greycoat Place with three staff - when I left we were a professional organization of 15 - I introduced the Friends of Stonewall scheme which generated almost £1M in revenue, I edited, designed and produced the Stonewall newsletter, I did all the community outreach and led the Stonewall rebrand in 1999 and developed and launched the first Stonewall website. I ran campaigns on Section 28, sexual offences, same-sex marriage, pension rights, parenting rights, schools, workplace discrimination and was a founder member of ILGA Europe. As the campaigns and communications director i helped change the law and social attitudes towards LGBT people, worked with Jack Straw (Home Secretary) after the Admiral Duncan bomb; was quoted by David Blunkett (Education Secretary); danced with Mo Mowlam and took on the American Moral Majority in the great Tinky Winky 'gay' debate that polarised the USA in 1999. I also set up the UKs first digital campaigning network in 1997 which transformed our response to untruthful and homophobic comments in the press. I arranged for the 1997 election to be played live in the UKs biggest LGBT nightclub and in 1998 I stepped in to organise the LGBT Pride March in a few weeks when it folded.

Msc, Advanced Environmental And Energy Studies

Integrated Environmental Management

Ba(Hons) 2:1, Geography