The recognition that we’ve received from Stonewall as one of Britain's top 100 LGBT-inclusive employers is the culmination of  &Proud - our 100% employee owned and run LGBT+ and allies network designed to champion LGBT+ inclusion and positive change across all areas of the business -  dedication to building a better, more inclusive, workplace for everyone.

In our regular series, ‘Five minutes with’, we catch up with some of the &Proud steerco.  This week Rosie Birchenough, Events Manager, Dentsu Aegis Network, discusses why networks like &Proud are important champions of change.

What do you hope placing in the Stonewall WEI top 100 achieves?

I hope that by being the first marketing agency network to feature in the Stonewall top 100 will motivate and encourage other companies in this sector to look at their own D&I initiatives and policies and ultimately create a more inclusive industry. 

Why does &PROUD matter?

&Proud is a vital network that creates an inclusive working environment for Dentsu employees. It also helps to educate and inspires people to support the LGBT+ community internally and externally.  

Why is LGBT+ inclusivity essential?

LGBT+ inclusivity is essential because I passionately believe that no one should feel isolated or live in fear of being judged or overlooked because of who they are.