Tideway shortlisted as one of the most inclusive companies in British LGBT awards
Tideway, the company building the super sewer to clean up the River Thames, has been shortlisted as one of the ‘Top 10 Inclusive Companies’ by The British LGBT Awards which celebrate those who have made a positive impact on the LGBTQ community during the past 12 months.
Tideway was shortlisted on the back of an application that highlighted the numerous ways that the company prioritises inclusivity, with particular reference to Encompass, the staff-led network that works continuously to make Tideway and the wider construction industry more inclusive for the LGBT community through a range of events, activities and initiatives.
The awards, which recognise individuals and organizations that display outstanding commitment to the LGBT community, was officially launched in 2015, with past winners including Stephen Fry, Caitlyn Jenner and Tom Daley.
The judging process for corporate categories means that winners are independently chosen by an expert panel, without any input from the organisers. The winners are announced at the annual ceremony, which this year will be held on 29 May.
Adam Smith, Creative Lead at Tideway, and the driving force behind the application and Tideway’s Encompass Network, said: “We want people to bring their whole self to work. I believe diverse companies that embrace people of all ages, ethnicities, gender identities, races, sexual orientations and physical or mental abilities are absolutely better places to work.
“An environment where everyone, whoever they are, can perform to the best of their ability is the right thing to create. The work Encompass does is helping to make the construction industry more attractive to people who may not have seen it as an option before.
“As chair of the LGBT Encompass network, I am incredibly proud that Tideway has been shortlisted in the Inclusive Employer category. To be shortlisted alongside the likes of Sky and Amazon is a huge achievement in itself, and it is also great to see another construction company, Mace, shortlisted alongside us.”
Steve Hails, Director of Business Services & HSW, said: “It is excellent to be shortlisted at these prestigious awards. Encompass has continually developed our inclusion philosophy through numerous activities and events which have shown us to be a leading company in the construction sector. To be considered alongside companies such as Amazon, Sky and KPMG is a fantastic achievement.”
Sarah Garrett MBE, the event’s founder, said: “It is essential to highlight those working tirelessly for change, including community groups and those who have contributed to changing equality. This also applies to corporate organisations, which we feel play an important part in investing in this agenda.
“I’m really proud of how much the awards have grown and the hard work we have all put in over the past five years. It is important to me, and the British LGBT Awards team as a whole, that our brand has integrity and credibility, a watertight judging process, and keeps a firm focus on our primary goal, which is to help improve equality and the lives of LGBT people.
“We continue to strive to use the awards as a vehicle to help achieve that goal.”