Transgender Awareness Week 2023

Today marks the first day of Transgender Awareness Week - a time to uplift the voices and lived experiences of transgender people, to raise awareness of the barriers that they face and to advocate for positive and lasting change. At Capita, we value and celebrate diversity in all its forms. However, with 1 in 3 UK employers saying that they would be less likely to hire a transgender worker , and with 65% of transgender colleagues feeling it’s necessary to hide the fact that they are trans in order to feel safe and secure in their jobs , the strive to create environments where transgender colleagues feel visible, supported and able to bring every part of their identity to work must be an on-going commitment.

A diverse workforce encourages a wider variety of lived experiences, ideas and viewpoints and we value what our transgender colleagues contribute to every area of Capita. So what is Capita actually doing to better the lives of our transgender colleagues and to show potential applicants that Capita not only welcomes but actively uplifts transgender people?

Our Gender Equality Network and LGBTQ+ Rainbow Alliance Network both have strong transgender representation within their committees and members. We have a thorough Transitioning at Work policy, which provides guidance and practical advice to transgender colleagues, as well as for their managers and colleagues. Our internal systems allow colleagues to select the language that best describes them. This includes gender identity options such as transgender, non-binary, agender and genderqueer, as well as pronoun options. We have bite-sized training resources available to all colleagues covering transgender terminology which will equip them with the vocabulary to confidently engage in meaningful conversations around transgender inclusion.??

Looking to the future, we've recently launched quarterly ally sessions, where LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies alike can come together to discuss how we can work towards real, tangible change. November’s session will focus specifically on transgender allyship.

With increasingly sensationalised media coverage of transgender people, anti-trans legislation and record high rates of hate crimes, feeling seen and included within workplaces is arguably more important now than ever before. Businesses have a unique opportunity to assure transgender colleagues that despite external discrimination, they are committed to upholding a culture of safety, dignity, community and continued education for all colleagues.

Sophie Davis is the Chair of Capita's Rainbow Alliance