About EGLCC

Founding

The EGLCC was founded in June 2019 by 3 national LGBTIQ Business units, the SGLCC (Scandinavian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce), the IGLBC (the Italian GLBT Business Chamber) and East meets West, the Vienna based organisation with a clear Central & East European focus. In July 2019, EGLCC was joined by the GGLBC (German LGBTIQ* Business Chamber). Most recently, BGLBC (BeNeLux LGBTIQ+ Business Chamber) joined in September 2022. The EGLCC has its official seat in Stockholm, Sweden and is open for each nationally based LGBTI Chamber of Commerce in Europe that subscribes to the principles as put down in the Vienna Declaration on LGBTIQ Businesses.

The Aim of EGLCC

The EGLCC defined 4 key aims:

  • We want to make the European LGBTIQ businesses more visible so that they become a relevant group in their local  business community
  • We want to increase the social acceptance of LGBTIQ people in a business environment so that they can become a influential player in their business community
  • We want diversity to become a relevant value in the business world which will lead to powerful collaborations and create unique business opportunities
  • We want to make clear that coming out in business is not a threat to their existing successes but that it is as valuable as a personal coming out, it makes the businesses stronger, more authentic and more successful

The Members

The proud members of the EGLCC, the five LGBTIQ Business Chambers active in Europe:

 

Supplier Diversity

The world is connected by global and local supply chains and many multinational corporations (MNC) have seen the value of widening their scope to include diverse suppliers. Their rationale for making inclusive supply chains a priority, range from a business commitment, to social responsibility, through to the desire to be a competitive and dynamic leader in the market place.

LGBTIQ businesses are ideally positioned within this nexus to provide not only expertise and insight but also an entry to the varied and affluent diverse markets MNCs seek. They are also well placed to anticipate the future needs of these markets and to respond swiftly and creatively to any new opportunities.

In addition to the growing interest from MNCs, an increasing number of investment groups are keen to invest in companies committed to supplier diversity. By linking with the EGLCC, companies can illustrate this commitment. In turn, LGBTIQ businesses can enhance their market position by registering with the EGLCC and applying to become a certified LGBTIQ-owned and operated business.

Alongside providing its members with a platform from which they can capitalize on a wide range of new business opportunities, the EGLCC is also committed to providing a space for building a strong, resilient and connected network of LGBTIQ businesses. As a member of this dynamic and growing community, we empower each other and together we advance our shared mission.

Whilst our primary mission is to develop our LGBTIQ business community and provide a key point of contact for corporates interested in doing business with us, we are also dedicated to the social responsibility that comes with representing this wonderfully diverse body of people. To this end, we intend to use this platform to raise awareness and promote inclusive ways of working.