One major retailer and one major supplier in the fresh produce industry are both coming forward to support Pride Month in the UK, the annual festival and the LGBTQ community.
Tesco said it is giving nearly £100,000 to a trio of LGBTQ+ charities and is sponsoring both the Brighton Pride and Pride in London events, the latter of which will be held on 2 July. Meanwhile, Brakes has launched what it calls “a network of support champions” in all of its sites throughout Sysco GB via its Spectrum programme to support its workers.
Tesco has donated more than £600,000 to charities in support of LGBTQ during the past three years to groups such as Switchboard, Albert Kennedy Trust, Mermaids, Terrence Higgins Trust, Fighting With Pride and Bi Pride UK.
“We remain committed to celebrating the diversity of our colleagues and customers and making Tesco a place where everyone feels welcome,” said Andrew Yaxley, Booker CEO and Executive Sponsor of LGBTQ+ at Tesco. “We’re proud to be helping three deserving charities who do so much to support LGBTQ+ people, and to be supporting the return of Pride events up and down the country this year. We can’t wait to be back together celebrating the LGBTQ+ community and helping the fantastic teams behind these events to make Pride 2022 the best one yet.”
Brakes and Sysco, meanwhile, had an entire day again devoted to the cause last week. In addition, it has changed its social media logos for the entire year, while overing professional development programmes for managers to support colleagues.
“Having a diverse and engaged workforce is incredibly important to our business and we recognise how important it is to show support not just in June, but across the entire year,” Margaret Gooch, Sysco GB HR Director, said. “We are very pleased to be launching new initiatives, including training opportunities that will make a lasting contribution to how diversity is viewed within Brakes.”
Like Brakes, Tesco has been out front with its support of its employees, which has included its own LGBTQ+ at Tesco network. The retailer is one of the top 25 companies on the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index.
“I’m thrilled that Tesco is supporting Pride and these wonderful charities this year,” Adam Jarvis, LGBTQ+ at Tesco network Chair, said. “I can’t wait to go to the parades and celebrate a really important part of who I am with my colleagues, while knowing that Tesco is making a difference to our LGBTQ+ communities. Love is love and we want everyone to be welcome at Tesco, to be able to thrive, and feel like we all belong.”
