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PRIDE IN

WHAT WE DO

Dan Forth, HR Director – People Services and Sponsor of Pride powerful changes to our organisation.
at Work, explains the work Cadent is undertaking to ensure its We have continued to grow and
workforce reflects the communities it serves transform our business throughout
2020/21, with our number of employees
s the UK’s largest gas EMBRACE – Raising awareness increasing from 4,000 to 6,000+,
distribution network, we and discussing issues that despite the challenges posed by the
play a crucial role in making affect colleagues from multiple Covid-19 pandemic. We are committed
sure our customers are kept faiths and colleagues who identify as to creating an increasingly inclusive
A safe and warm. Every day Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic. work environment, while supporting
and night, our teams work together those that have been disproportionately
to make sure the energy you need PRIDE AT WORK For members affected by the pandemic, and helping
is there when you need it. To truly and supporters of the LGBTQ+ to rebuild the economy and the
respond to our customers’ needs, community at Cadent communities we serve.
it’s vital that our workforce reflects
the communities we serve. There WOMEN IN CADENT A WORKPLACE OF EQUALITY: OUR COMMITMENT TO
are historical challenges within the Networking group driving gender THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY
energy and utilities sector to inspire equality, welcoming all genders Ensuring an inclusive environment
and attract a diverse pipeline of for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender
talent, but that shouldn’t, and doesn’t, CADENT MILITARY and queer (LGBTQ+) employees across
stop us from driving change to create COMMUNITY Active military our business is a key part of our EDI
greater levels of equality, diversity network within Cadent for ex- strategy. We are committed to raising
and inclusion in our organisation. military, reservists and those with friends awareness and educating our people
and/or family in the Armed Forces and communities about LGBTQ+ issues,
OUR APPROACH TO EQUALITY, while supporting our LGBTQ+ external
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION THRIVE Our newest community, communities and families.
We take Equality, Diversity and Thrive is an employee-led Our commitment reflects our
Inclusion (EDI) seriously. We have community created to raise core values and beliefs; that our
taken great strides to strengthen awareness of and support people with colleagues should be celebrated as
our position over the last 15 months disabilities within Cadent their authentic selves, in order to shape
towards our vision. Creating a our culture and effectively support the
culture where people feel valued, communities we serve.
included, like they belong and have We are working to ensure Pride Month (June) is incredibly
equal opportunities to succeed and our people are empowered to important to us. Whilst we acknowledge
be themselves is key to building collaborate and drive change that society has become more
and retaining a safe, happy and understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, the
collaborative workforce. This isn’t a community still suffers from prejudice.
standalone or HR-driven change, it’s These communities are run by Our Pride at Work community is
something we’re weaving into the fabric employees, for employees. They have central to our commitment to support
of who we are as a business and all our sponsorship and senior representation, LGBTQ+ colleagues, customers and
people practices. We are working to and work collaboratively on stakeholders. We have increased the
ensure our people are empowered to intersectional inclusion initiatives. Each visibility of Pride at Work through
collaborate and drive change. One of community has different challenges, written content and live virtual ‘lunch
the ways in which we do this is though however together we tackle these issues and learn’ sessions, ensuring that the
our employee-led communities: as a collective, as in doing so we can make LGBTQ+ community’s voice is heard.

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