We go to the edges to find the stories that matter
Change does not always start with loud moments. Sometimes it begins quietly, in the words we choose, the systems we question, and the people who refuse to accept the way things have always been.
This week’s stories show how resistance takes many forms.
Migrants are told their English is not good enough, even when the economy depends on them. Women are leaving the tech industry while talent shortages grow. A profession is finally dropping 'Dear Sirs' to recognise who is in the room. And a billionaire is using wealth to redistribute power, not just accumulate it. Resistance takes many forms.
We also look at what happens when racism affects those who are working to care for others. We explore what dyslexia at work reveals about how systems are built for one kind of mind. And we highlight an equal pay victory that proves change happens when someone stands their ground.
Each story is part of a bigger rewrite, a reminder that progress is not granted by permission but created by persistence. Change is written, resisted, and repeated every day by people who refuse to follow the old rules.
Before change can be written, someone has to question the rules that decide who is allowed in.
Stories from the edges this week...
A-Level Standard English Requirement For Migrants To Be Introduced
Is your English at A-Level standard? Soon, that question could decide who gets to work, study, or build a life in the UK. From January 2026, migrants applying for skilled worker or scale-up visas will need to prove their English is at A-Level standard. The Home Office says this could reduce migration by up to 100,000 people a year. It sounds like a measure of skill, but it is really a measure of who we want to keep out. Many sectors are desperate for talent. Universities rely on international students. And many British citizens would struggle to meet the same language benchmark.
UK Economy Losing £3.5 billion A Year From Women Exiting the Tech Sector
Between 40,000 and 60,000 women leave the tech industry every year. The Lovelace report estimates that this costs the UK economy up to £3.5 billion annually. Ninety percent of women surveyed said they want to lead, but only one in four believes she can.
The government wants to grow the national AI workforce by 2030, yet the sector continues to lose experienced women faster than it can replace them. This is not a talent shortage. It is a failure of culture. Careers in technology should not exclude women from progressing.
Law Firms Told To Stop Writing 'Dear Sirs' In Communication
After years of campaigning, the Law Society has asked members to stop using 'Dear Sirs' in letters and emails. It is a small change that signals something bigger.
Language shapes power. The words that open our letters tell us who is expected to lead, who is seen as professional, and who is invisible. For decades, women and non-binary people have worked within systems that never spoke to them.
Changing one greeting does not rewrite centuries of exclusion, but it does set a new tone. Every word we unlearn is part of building a culture that finally recognises who is in the room.
Staff working with elderly and disabled service users have been advised to travel to work in racially mixed groups and carry panic alarms. This is after people experienced a surge in racial abuse. Carers are scared to get out of their cars. This is against the backdrop of a sector that needs overseas workers, and immigration policies that will make it harder for people to work here.
UNISON, GMB and Birmingham City Council have signed an agreement to settle a historic equal pay claim. The employees will be compensated for wages they missed out on as a result of being underpaid for many years, when compared to male colleagues doing work of equal value. The payments relate to equal pay claims involving women in roles across council services, schools, and Birmingham Children’s Trust.
AI-generated content is being generated by women and enforcing misogyny
Writer and Campaigner Laura Bates reports that AI tools without regulation are uploading images of women being shot, AI telling women to ask for less money, and downplaying women's health issues. AI tools, without regulation, are being used to re-embed and intensify extreme misogyny and racism in the foundations of technology. A new arms race is allowing a tiny number of men to amass vast, obscene wealth at the expense of the most vulnerable across our society. If you’re not worried, you’re not paying attention!
Dyslexic chef dismissed after struggling to read orders wins £24k
A chef with dyslexia who struggled to read customer’s food orders has succeeded in a claim for disability discrimination at tribunal. Greene King Retail Services, failed to provide reasonable adjustments after he was unable to read orders that appeared on a screen in the pub’s kitchen. Greene King Retail Services, failed to provide reasonable adjustments after he was unable to read orders that appeared on a screen in the pub’s kitchen. The tribunal accepted Moore’s evidence that he also could not read the wording that stated that he would be agreeing to the contract by clicking in the bo.
The equalities watchdog EHRC has withdrawn interim advice on how institutions should respond to the supreme court ruling on transgender rights, which some campaign groups said could effectively exclude trans people from many public spaces. They advise taking specialist legal advice.
Daming review of anti-black racism within police force was buried
A review of anti-Black racism within the Metropolitan police has been 'buried' by the force themselves. This is despite findings of discrimination in their HR systems. The internal review, commissioned by the Met from the consultancy HR Rewired, concluded that bias, racial stereotyping and inequity were woven through the force’s recruitment, promotion and grievance processes, affecting Black staff specifically.
Billionaire MacKenzie Scott Makes Donations Up to $42 Million to Address Equity Gaps
MacKenzie Scott has donated up to 42 million dollars to scholarship providers supporting underrepresented communities. Over the past five years, she has given away more than 19 billion dollars to organisations addressing racial and social inequality.
We are asked about the impacts of policies and strategies in the USA all the time. While some corporations are retreating from inclusion commitments, others are doubling down. Scott’s giving is a reminder that change is not only about money. It is about power.
Her donations open doors that systems have kept closed. They rewrite who gets access to education, leadership, and possibilities. When those with influence use it to level the field, progress moves from promise to proof.
Every story in this edition is a reminder that change is not a single moment. It is a series of rewrites. From challenging language that excludes, to rebuilding workplaces that work for every mind, to confronting injustice when silence feels safer. Progress happens when people decide that the rules no longer serve everyone and choose to write better ones. Keep questioning, keep rewriting, and keep building spaces where everyone belongs.
If you want to keep learn
If these stories have made you think about actions you can take, read on for ideas to take action.
Edge Of Tomorrow: Is Society Going Backwards?
It's Black History Month, but are months like this changing anything? Or are we going backwards? Join Kaia Allen-Bevan for an interactive, online discussion to look at how society engages with Black history and culture today. October 22nd, 6:30 PM - 8 PM, Online (Google Meet).
We are offering 5 FREE PLACES to this webinar. Email hello@edgeofdifference.com to claim your free place.
What do Clive Myrie, Hardeep Mathuru, Sheela Banerjee, and Karen Dobres have in common? They will all be on stage at Brighton Summit. With the theme of 'What If?', explore activities, workshops, and ideas to get you thinking. It's on November 6th at Brighton Corn Exchange.
Are you a People Leader or a diversity, equity, and inclusion lead looking for some help and support? You can book time for individual sessions with us where we delve into your strategy and help you create ideas to drive change. We are offering 20% off to our newsletter subscribers! Click on the link and you will see the discount code.
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Did any of this week's stories get you thinking about actions you need to take? We're here to help! We have some great programmes to help you take action. Book a call with us and we can talk you through our programmes and options.
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