Pride, the history of the Czech Republic and our LGBTQ+ community

Across E.ON UK, we have nine fantastic colleague-led inclusion networks that support our colleagues, provide a safe space and promote allyship, equality, diversity and inclusion. Our LGBT+ and Friends network is one such network which works hard to make sure our colleagues can bring their authentic selves at work and feel supported in doing so.

The network is E.ON’s first global network, spanning seven European countries and bringing more than 1,500 colleagues together. And in its latest historic move, the LGBT+ and Friends network recently hosted its very first LGBTQ+ conference, with over 100 of its members attending.

Held in Prague in the Czech Republic, the event not only welcomed members of the LGBTQ+ community but also allies and supporters, creating a space for dialogue reflection and inspiration.

The conference aimed to bring our LGBT+ and Friends network members together to network and learn from each other. Attendees explored everything from the history of the Czech Republic and how it impacts the experience of the LGBTQ+ community, microaggressions and intersectionality to the importance of Pride events, best practice for inclusion in the workplace and updates from our LGBTQ+ network members from across the E.ON Group.

Attendees also looked to the future, discussing the network’s plans for 2025, focusing on what the network should start, stop and continue doing.

We spoke to just a few of our UK colleagues who attended the conference to find out what they thought of the event, their key learnings and the importance of fostering an inclusive workplace.

Tim Larcher, Obligation Governance Manager and co-chair of the LGBT+ and Friends network, said: “This was mine and Phil’s [co-chair of LGBT+ and Friends network] dream to launch the network globally, see new regional chapters being created and then bring everyone together. We’ve now made history by having E.ON’s first ever LGBTQ+ conference.

“The main aims of the conference were to bring everyone together and shout about our successes, learn from each other, identify areas we need to focus for 2025 and beyond. And that’s exactly what my favourite part of the conference was: bringing everyone together to network and make history! I really enjoyed the networking and seeing all these new regional chapters start on their journey. Whilst we are all on the same path, we are at different points and have different needs.

“I started at E.ON 23 years ago and I have never hidden who I am (I told the interviewer my boyfriend had given me a lift to the office where I was being interviewed). If I had to describe my time at E.ON, I’d say it’s been diverse multi-cultural and amazing.”

Phil McQuillen, Culture, Diversity & People Lead and co-chair of the LGBT+ and Friends network, said: “As a long-term member and co-chair of the network, this is something that I’ve dreamt about: I wanted to meet, face to face, the incredible network of colleagues that we have created. The main aim of the conference was to create a safe space where our community could come to celebrate, learn, network and grow. Inclusivity to me means that everyone has a voice and that everyone is heard and that everyone gets the same opportunities no matter what.

“My biggest takeaway from the conference was about “action” and that it can’t be just all talk; we need to act to deliver change. I loved networking and knowing that you are not on your own and that 100+ people have your back.”

Carly-Emma White, Pricing Compliance and Costs Manager, said: “Inclusion has always been something I was very vocal and passionate about but in recent years, I have learnt more about what that really means beyond the surface level. I wanted to attend to hear from colleagues from all over the world and increase my understanding of the challenges our LGBTQ+ colleagues face.

“My favourite part was having the chance to speak to and socialise with colleagues from all over the group, make connections and have some great conversations. I was surprised to learn that the UK LGBTQ+ network is the most mature of the group, having been in existence for around 15 years, it was really interesting to understand the challenges other regional chapters are having and the different national and social contexts they operate within.

“My key takeaway was that real inclusion requires raising your voice, even when that can feel uncomfortable. This was something I was aware of but hearing the lived experience of others really brought this home for me. I am determined to make allyship a choice I make every single day.“

Danny Boxce-Meyer, Project Leader of the LGBT+ Conference and Roadmap at E.ON SE, said: “Organising E.ON’s first LGBTQ+ conference was a historic milestone. Bringing together over 100 colleagues from across Europe created a unique space for connection, learning, and action.

“The conference wasn’t just about celebrating success but also setting future goals. Key topics included intersectionality, microaggressions, and workplace inclusion, sparking honest dialogue and plans for progress.

What inspired me most was the collective passion of our colleagues to make inclusion a reality. This event marks the start of a movement, building a workplace where everyone can thrive authentically.”

We’re proud to be one of the UK’s most inclusive employers and are committed to continuous learning and improvement on our journey to be a truly inclusive employer.

Supporting and enabling events like the LGBTQ+ conference not only provide our colleagues with a safe space to share experiences and ideas but can also spark new initiatives and policies that allow us to continue our journey to inclusion.

To find out more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion, visit eonenergy.com/inclusion