Available to book
Transform workplace diversity and inclusion with Darren Burns, speaker and Director of Diversity at Timpson Group. Darren helps organisations recruit ex-offenders, improve social mobility, and create inclusive cultures, leveraging expertise from Cambridge University and his police background.


Darren Burns is the Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the Timpson Group, as well as being the head of the Timpson Foundation.
He specialises in both the recruitment and retention of ex-offenders and others who face barriers to employment.
Darren also fosters relationships with many UK prisons and organisations such as police and probation services.
He manages the Timpson prison training academies and has responsibility for overseeing the transition from custody into the workplace.
He is passionate about diversity and inclusion and provides consultancy services for forward-thinking businesses, as well as helping to educate others on the benefits of championing social mobility and employing marginalised groups.
As a former Police Officer, his experience of working in some of the most challenging parts of the UK enables him to help break the offending cycle and ensure marginalised groups can find employment.
Darren has recently completed a Masters degree in Applied Criminology, Penology and Management at the University of Cambridge.
Topics, sessions and talks
In this session, Darren Burns shares his unique insights from his background as a Police Officer and now as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the Timpson Group. He’ll educate your team on the benefits of hiring marginalised groups as well as sharing effective strategies for fostering inclusive workplaces and supporting marginalised employees.
often considered together

Asif Sadiq
Diversity and Inclusion
Workplace Culture
Social Mobility

Rob Lawless
Communication
Networking
Workplace Culture

Victor Sosanya
Generational
Demographics
Psychological Safety
frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
To book Darren Burns, email darren.burns@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Darren's availability and speaking fee. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and about your audience.
No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.
Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.
The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.
Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.
Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
Get the right person
Tell us what you’re working on and we’ll match you with the talent your audience won’t stop talking about.