In a world of rapid change, where creativity and collaboration drives growth, Thales is creating a workplace in which everyone can be themselves and give their best.

We are therefore delighted to form a partnership with Stonewall, the leading charity working to achieve greater inclusion of the LGBT+ community.  Thales has joined the Stonewall Global Diversity Champions Programme with the aim of helping to better integrate diversity and inclusion into all parts of the UK business.  

Stonewall already works with around 800 organisations globally, and Thales’ membership in the UK follows the recent signing of the ‘Autre Cercle’ LGBT+ Charter, which was signed in France by Thales’ global Chairman and CEO, Patrice Caine . This commits the Thales Group to creating an inclusive environment for LGBT+ employees

Working with Stonewall will provide a number of benefits, such as access to world renowned training, as well as their expertise in LGBT+ policy. By working with external bench markers, this membership will take our inclusivity of LGBT+ employees to the next level.

In addition to the partnership with Stonewall, we have also recently established an LGBT+ committee. Callum Simpson-Fryer, Systems Engineer in AVS, is a founding member of the committee, which is set up predominantly for networking across Thales UK, but also to instigate broader, positive change throughout the organisation. 

This July, the LGBT+ committee organised a rugby tournament in Crawley, which saw Thales employees play against local teams, whilst wearing rainbow Stonewall laces, in aid of LGBT+ and mental health charities.

Callum spoke about future aspirations of the committee, saying:  “our goals are to raise awareness of what inclusivity means for the workplace, to host informal social events and also work with HR to ensure that policies are inclusive to LGBT+ employees.”