Throughout June, individuals and communities across the UK and Ireland will come together to support the LGBTQ+ community.
The Pride events being held this year mark the 50th anniversary of the first Pride march held in the UK, where protesters marched to Trafalgar Square in London to enact change and draw attention to the struggles faced by those in the community. These actions have since paved the way for many progressive policy and societal changes across the UK and Ireland, as well as providing opportunities for individuals and businesses alike to partake in the movement and celebrate the value of diversity.
Pride at Seetec
On our mission to advance fairer, safer and more prosperous communities across the UK and Ireland over the past 37 years, we have introduced a number of new initiatives designed to support both our colleagues and the individuals that engage with our services who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community.
The Seetec Group equality, diversity and inclusion strategy is one of the latest large-scale initiatives to be introduced into the business. Designed to cement our commitment to putting equality, diversity and inclusion at the forefront of who we are as an organisation, the strategy has set a foundation for the continued improvement of the Group’s policies and working practices when it comes to building, sustaining and celebrating a diverse workforce.
Beyond making changes at a policy level, there was a need for colleagues who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community to communicate and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing them and the individuals that use our services. This led to the creation of the LGBTQ+ steering group, which is formed of colleagues from across the business who are also members of the community. The group has already tackled several real challenges facing individuals using our services and implemented successful changes to improve their experience when engaging with the business. It has also successfully coordinated multiple Pride events across the Group and ensured representation of the business at local Pride marches.
Carl Hall, Deputy Director of Community Development and founder of the LGBTQ+ steering group, said:
“I was really impressed that right from the beginning of the LGBTQ+ group, we were able to influence Seetec’s inclusivity by highlighting improvements to policy and guidance which was acted upon very quickly by our shared services.
“Our inclusivity group is a safe space that not only seeks to help Seetec become the best it can be in terms of LGBTQ+ inclusivity, but also to act as a forum in which people can simply share experiences, find support, and feel part of a community which embraces both shared and diverse wants and needs.”
This year, colleagues from across the Seetec Group will attend a variety of public events, such as the London and Manchester Pride marches, to support members of the LGBTQ+ community and draw attention to the challenges still facing it today.