LGBTQ+ at Mitie

Pride 2023

At Mitie, we recognise the importance of inclusiveness. Pride is an important opportunity to show support and solidarity for our LGBTQ+ colleagues.

Our Proud To Be network provides a safe and supportive space for our colleagues. It also aims to raise awareness of LGBTQ+ issues and build allyship across Mitie.

We caught up with Nick Carter, Commercial Director of Mitie Waste & Environmental and Proud To Be Network Chair, to discuss the significance of Pride and why Mitie is a great place to work for the LGBTQ+ community.

Nick said:

“Pride month is a time to celebrate achieving equality for LGBTQ+ people. To me personally, it is a time to reflect on what has changed in my lifetime, such as the introduction of Civil Partnerships and same-sex marriages, to an equal age of consent and the ability to donate blood. It’s a time of positivity and celebration and I love it!

Mitie’s a great place for LGBTQ+ colleagues, as it really strives to encourage everyone to be comfortable with bringing their true selves to work. We work with the Head of ED&I to ensure inclusion is at the heart of everything we do, and it’s been great to see the focus put on LGBTQ+ inclusion within our company ED&I strategy.”

Jason Towse, Managing Director Business Services and Proud To Be Network’s sponsor, said:

“At Mitie, we believe that everyone, independent of sexual orientation and gender identity, deserves the right to feel safe and supported in the workplace.

Our Proud to Be Network isn’t just about arbitrary representation, it’s about working together to make sure our colleagues have this experience, every working day. Pride month is an excellent opportunity for us to recognise and celebrate our LGBTQ+ colleagues. “

Mitie launched its LGBTQ+ employee network in 2015, Proud to be.

The network aims 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).

Mitie are 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.

We asked the network’s leaders why they put themselves forward to lead the Proud to Be network.

Sharon Wiley-French, Waste and Environmental Manager and Deputy Leader of Proud to Be, said:

"Since joining Mitie in 2020, the Proud to Be network has been hugely important to me. Being part of the network, I know the many challenges we face as part of our community. There is still work to be done to ensure we can create a workplace where we can all feel confident to bring our true selves to work."