Set up in June 2021 with 3 people, we now have 15 active LGBTQ+ folk and allies as part of our ERG, BeYou. The first few years have been raising awareness with colleagues about LGBTQ+ issues and promoting our ERG to help meet our objectives.
Our purpose:
BeYou exists to raise awareness, drive inclusivity, build allyship, provide support and drive positive business change for LGBTQ+ employees and the communicates we serve.
Our objectives:
• Celebrate and grow LGBTQ+ talent, new and current
• Provide a safe network space for LGBTQ+ employees and allies.
• Drive wider awareness on LGBTQ+ issues
• Reflect and support the LGBTQ+ communities that we serve.
• Drive inclusivity to make Southern Water one of the most attractive businesses to work at
What have we been up to – a timeline
2021
• Pride month photo competition
• Supporting Stone Crabs charity on Isle of Wight
• Pride Month – Gareth Thomas talk (400+ colleagues attended)
• Attended Worthing pride weekend
2022
• Launched dedicated intranet page
• Raised awareness of LGBTQ+ issues via internal comms including Anna’s blog
• BeYou branding launched
• BeYou lanyard badges and polo shirt for colleagues
• Built relationships and learnt from other ERGs in other companies including Baringa & L&Q
• Presentation to SMT including quiz
• Promoted BeYou with stands at Falmer and Durrington.
• Pride flags at main offices.
• Exec sponsor – Lawrence G blog internal and external – the importance of being you
• Zoe Lyon’s talk (250+ attended) – growing up lesbian in catholic Ireland.
• Sponsored four pride events (Eastleigh, Swale, Gravesham and Worthing) attended Worthing two years in a row.
• National inclusion week – Fundraiser for local mental health charity MindOut with drag queen Ophelia Payne. Prizes donated by our service partners.
2023
• LGBTQ+ history month – advertising group, stories etc.
• Showed LGBTQ+ films at main offices.
• Joanne Lockwood talk (160+ attended) – One transition, two perspectives.
• Joining LGBTQ+ national out leadership network, Nexus
• LGBTQ+ inclusion training delivered by MindOut for 25 colleagues
• Supporting local pride events (sponsorship and attendance)
• Growing our network, continuing to build an inclusive culture for colleagues and learn from others on what more we can do
2024
Supporting more community events, working on our Trans inclusion policy and growing our network to over 25 people.
