Building Inclusion at Every Level: Purple Goat’s Mission to Empower Disability Representation in Marketing
Shaw Trust
We are a social purpose organisation challenging inequality and breaking down barriers to enable social mobility.
In today’s landscape, true inclusion goes beyond simply ticking a box—it’s about authentically representing and uplifting diverse communities. This ethos is the heartbeat of Purple Goat, the world’s only disability-led and disability-focused marketing agency. With a team where more than 50% have a disability, Purple Goat is dedicated to fostering an environment of welcome and understanding within its organisation and through the work it delivers for clients worldwide. Here’s a closer look at how Purple Goat is transforming marketing to be more inclusive from the inside out.
A Culture of Inclusion
Purple Goat’s identity is deeply rooted in the lived experiences of its team. Being disability-led means that inclusion isn’t a corporate initiative; it’s embedded into the company’s DNA. Internally, Purple Goat prioritises creating a workplace that empowers everyone to succeed.
Global Client Director Dom Hyams says, “As the world's only disability-led and disability-focused marketing agency, we bring our lived experiences into everything that we do. With 50%+ of our team having some type of disability, we make sure to provide an environment that is warm and welcoming to all.”
Externally, this culture of inclusion extends to Purple Goat’s client-facing work. Collaborating with global brands, the agency leads the way in creating campaigns that resonate deeply with disabled audiences and beyond.
“When it comes to our services, we work with some of the biggest brands in the world to create more authentic and progressive campaigns. We offer consultancy services to make clients feel more confident around all things disability, research and insights that power?their campaigns, and our bread and butter, inclusive influencer campaigns, collaborating with disabled creators to craft diverse and representative activations that also deliver powerful business results.”
These aren’t just marketing efforts but bridges to greater understanding and acceptance.
Breaking Barriers with Channel 4’s Paralympics Campaign
A standout project for Purple Goat was their collaboration with Channel 4 to create a hero campaign for the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Dom was especially proud of the campaign which, “received praise from the industry due to its progressive?nature and representation throughout. This piece of content really pushed to challenge stereotypes and outdated preconceptions around disability.”
Commitment to Accessibility, Internally and Externally
At Purple Goat, accessibility isn’t an afterthought—it’s embedded into every aspect of their work, from strategy to execution. The company continually invests in resources and fosters a workplace culture of openness, ensuring that team members can communicate their needs confidently.
“It's incredibly important for us to provide our team with all the accessibility tools and adjustments they might need to do the best work possible. From AI tools, mental health breaks, and other accessibility requirements.?We look to create an environment of open dialogue and comfort within our teams, where everyone feels able to say anything without judgement in the knowledge that they will be heard and understood.”
When partnering with clients, Purple Goat takes a consultative approach, advocating for accessibility from day one. Dom goes on to say, “When working with clients, accessibility is baked into everything we do. From naturally inclusive social campaigns, to consultancy that considers the needs of all communities from the very start of a project, right through to what we end up creating together.”
It’s clear that Purple Goat work to ensure that accessibility is integrated at every stage, to create campaigns that reach and respect all communities.
Celebrating and Amplifying Disability Leadership through DP100
Purple Goat’s sponsorship of the Disability Power 100 underscores their commitment to celebrating disability inclusion and leadership. As an agency closely aligned with the work of DP100, Purple Goat recognises the impact of highlighting influential disabled individuals and organisations that are changing the game. Dom says, “As an inclusion-focused company that is also disability-led, we passionately advocate for the mission of the Power100 to celebrate and raise awareness of the incredible talent we have within the Disabled community - working tirelessly to remove barriers to opportunity for everyone so they can achieve anything!”
Purple Goat isn’t just leading campaigns; it’s leading a movement. Through the collective expertise, passion, and lived experiences of its team, they are reimagining what it means to build inclusive marketing. With projects that challenge stereotypes, accessibility practices that empower all team members, and a commitment to celebrating disability leadership, Purple Goat continues to make waves in its pursuit of a more inclusive industry and society.
?