Mitie, the facilities management company, launched its LGBTQ+ employee network last week, Proud to be.
The network will aim to educate, inform and inspire employees to be themselves by promoting an inclusive culture at work, as well as guiding and empowering managers to better support and manage LGBTQ+ people (lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender and/or questioning).
At the launch event on Tuesday 31 March, Mitie employees heard a presentation from Stonewall’s Luise Usiskin, Client Account Manager, on the challenges that LGBTQ+ people face in the workplace. Stonewall is one of the UK’s leading LGBTQ+ charities, renowned for campaigning and lobbying for equality. Mitie is a member of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme, which aims to assist businesses on developing inclusive workplace cultures.
Doctor Richard Spencer, Head of Sustainability at the Chartered Institute of Accounts for England and Wales also gave a presentation. Doctor Spencer spoke about how diversity fits into the wider sustainability spectrum, as supporting people to be themselves at work is not only about inclusivity, it is also good for business, as employees are more productive and stay with a company for longer.
The audience also heard from Dane Morriseau, a facilities manager at Mitie, who before joining the company was in the US army and learnt to become an ally when a junior officer came out to him seeking support. His message echoes that of Proud to be, who hope to educate managers on how to support LGBTQ+ people in their teams.
Peter Mosley, Managing Director, Technical Facilities Management and Proud to be's executive sponsor said:
“Mitie is a people business and we are 100% committed to a diverse and inclusive environment for everyone. With this in mind, I am delighted to hold the position of executive sponsor for Mitie’s Proud to be network.
We’re firmly committed to addressing all areas of equality, ensuring our employees are treated with dignity and respect and have a workplace culture where diversity is celebrated."
Through regular meetings, networking events and discussion forums, Proud to be will continue to investigate areas where it can promote LGBTQ+ equality and awareness within Mitie.
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For further information, contact:
Shaun Mooney
Digital Communications Manager and Proud to be forum member
T: +44 (0)20 3123 8681 E: shaun.mooney@mitie.com
What is Stonewall?
Stonewall is a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights charity, renowned for its campaigning and lobbying. Some major successes include helping achieve the equalisation of the age of consent, lifting the ban on LGB people serving in the military, securing legislation allowing same-sex couples to adopt and the repeal of Section 28. More recently Stonewall has helped secure civil partnerships and then equal marriage and ensured the recent Equality Act protected lesbian, gay and bisexual people in terms of goods and services.
The Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme is Britain’s leading employers’ forum of sexual orientation. The programme helps businesses, charities and public services to develop inclusive workplace cultures. With over 600 members who employ 5.5 million staff, the programme is the largest non-governmental intervention of its kind in the world.
