Shortly after I joined the company, I was really proud to be asked to sponsor our LGBTQ+ employee resource group, BeYou. It’s amazing to be working in a company which values people for who they are, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. Our people are the key to the success of the business and, if we want them to work at their best, we need to make sure they’re happy, engaged, feeling valued and comfortable being their authentic selves.
For this to be true, we need to make sure that we have the right culture; that our policies and ways of working support people from all backgrounds and social groups; that we are all willing to challenge things that get in the way of people being able to bring their whole selves to work; and that we have positive role models and allies who can support and sponsor diverse talent within our business.
I’m a massive music fan and have many musical heroes. And when I think of inspiring role models who were proud of their differences, who were willing to challenge the status quo, and who created some of the greatest music of all time precisely because of their different experiences and viewpoints, then so many from the LGBTQ+ community come to mind. Some of my personal favourites are David Bowie, Freddie Mercury and Billie Joe Armstrong – all of whom caused controversy back in their day for their sexuality but were fearless in being themselves and who are now appreciated for being talented and creative artists who created inspirational music that’ll mean so much to so many people. Who they are makes this music possible and has made it possible for many others to follow in their footsteps.
What better time to remember their achievements than during Pride Month, which is celebrated every June. Rainbow flags are flying around the world and lots of activities with parades, festivals, and concerts going on across the globe. This is a time when we come together to honour and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and the progress we’ve made towards a more inclusive society.
Pride Months remind us that love knows no boundaries and that diversity is something to be embraced. It is an opportunity to learn some important social history along the way and celebrate and reflect on how far we’ve come and how far there’s still to go.
As we celebrate Pride Month, we should remember that this goes beyond a single month. It’s a continuous journey towards creating a more inclusive society. Our aim is to make Southern Water a great place to work so we attract – and retain – the best talent from all walks of life. We’ve been in the Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers for a few years now and, every year, we’re moving up in the league table. We’ve gone from the 49th to 44th place. That makes me very proud to work here, but we absolutely have more to do and I’m looking forward to playing a role in that journey.
Happy Pride Month! 🌈
Stuart Ledger, Chief Financial Officer and executive sponsor of BeYou