Pride in Energy annual survey results call for greater allyship and action from senior leaders

• Strong call for greater visibility and action of leaders on LGBTQI+ issues.  
• Over 50% increase in respondents experiencing or witnessing discrimination in the workplace.  

Pride in Energy’s 2023 survey included clear criticism of ‘pinkwashing’ by some organisations and businesses; 2024’s survey echoes these sentiments ranking corporate visibility in community media and at Pride events as the least important action businesses can take. Instead, they ranked “more visible LGBTQI+ role models and advocacy by senior leadership” far above all other options on how to remedy the growing perception gap between how the industry is thought of, and what employers are themselves like to work within. There has, however, been an incremental increase in those with visible LGBTQI+ individuals and allies working at a managerial level.

On this issue, one respondent said: “There is no real visibility of LGBT leaders and it feels very rainbow washing at times … with flags and parades etc but is there any support when it comes to recruitment or education or the more difficult things like facilities or rewards/benefits. We need TRUE and real inclusion”. 

All four of Pride in Energy’s surveys have shown a gap between how the industry and respondents’ employers view inclusion within the industry. Whilst there is a positive overall picture of industry perception, with 65% ranking 6/10 or above for inclusivity, 91% rank their employer 6/10 or above. Equivalent numbers of respondents ranked their employer 10/10 for inclusivity versus 6/10 for the industry. 

This year also saw a jump from 14% to 21.5% of respondents who have experienced or witnessed discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation in the past year. Anecdotal feedback left in the survey suggests that casually homophobic jokes and intrusive comments remain commonplace, “operational environments can still be huge hotspots for anti-LGBTQI+ rhetoric; this needs to be tackled at an organisational level alongside a collaborative, industry wide piece of work to stop any rot”. 

Joshua Atkins, founder and chair of Pride in Energy said: “Whilst there are clear areas for improvement in delivering an inclusive environment for LGBTQI+ employees, one of the biggest issues the industry faces is its perception by this community. At a time when the sector is pursuing huge growth in its workforce, perceptions like this matter.  

For the second year in a row our survey has demonstrated a desire for a wholehearted support for the industry’s LGBTQI+ employees that goes beyond activity in Pride Month and we will continue to support any organisations or business which seeks to make its workplace a more welcoming and equitable place”.