Why are Severn Trent a Diverse and Inclusive Youth-friendly Employer?

Youth-friendly Severn Trent celebrate people no matter what their age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability,  orientation, background, religion or belief is. Here’s how.

How boring would it be if we were all cut from the same cloth? And how ill-equipped would we be to serve the communities who trust us to do right by them?

That’s why at Severn Trent they positively celebrate diversity and inclusion, truly embracing individuals’ contributions, no matter what their age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, social background, religion or belief.

Isn’t that the kind of company any young person wants to work for?

A simple but strong inclusion strategy

Severn Trent focus on:

  1.  Creating a workplace that’s fair for all. In a fair working environment, everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
  2.  Building a workforce that reflects the community. Severn Trent serves people from every walk of life, all with different needs – so the people working there can and should reflect that.

The 2025 Diversity and Inclusion plan outlines Severn Trent’s commitments – how they plan to be a force for good, and what they’ve achieved so far in breaking down myths, stereotypes and barriers.

Read Severn Trent’s Diversity Plan

Diversity and inclusion networks at Severn Trent

Severn Trent have set up four networks to make sure they are hiring a diverse range of people who have a voice and agency (the power to DO and ACHIEVE) in the organisation. These networks do many proactive things, including connecting with colleagues to support their learning and network with external groups.

Disability

The Disability Advisory Group’s mission is to build a truly inclusive culture towards disability and other health conditions, removing barriers to allow every colleague to fulfil their potential and be their true, authentic self at Severn Trent. Their focus is on recruitment practices, supporting colleagues with disabilities, and raising awareness across the entire workforce.

LGBTQ+

The well-established LGBTQ+ network work with leadership teams to drive an inclusive culture to be proud of. Since 2017, the network has worked in partnership with Stonewall to become a diversity champion, as well as updating the organisation’s policies and procedures to be more inclusive.

At Severn Trent, LGBTQ+ colleagues and communities can know they’re not alone. The organisation has a mission to create real change for the better through education, celebrating key events and change hearts and minds around the challenges LGBTQ+ people experience.

Ethnicity

The ethnicity network works to make Severn Trent more representative of the communities being served, and to make it an inclusive place to work. This network encourages everyone to bring their whole selves to work regardless of their background, race or experiences, by making the conversation about who we are a comfortable one.

Women in Operations and STEM

This is Severn Trent’s newest network, created in 2021. As a company with a high operational workforce, Severn Trent are focused on promoting great careers in operational and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) environments for women – at whatever stage of their career.

This powerful group works to find useful ways to encourage more female school leavers into thinking about careers in this area, and also how to make sure women get great support in their roles.

Change doesn’t happen by accident

Here are some of Severn Trent’s most recent achievements:

  • 8th in the Social Mobility Index in 2020
  • We’re super proud to have moved up a staggering 239 places in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index
  • Our colleague Carl Edwards is Stonewall’s 2020 Gay Role Model of the Year
  • 2nd for Senior Female Representation in the Hampton Alexander Review 2020
  • 5th in the UK and 31st / 4,000 in Equileap’s Gender Equality and global rankings 2021
  • 4th on Equality for the Tortoise Sustainability Index 2020

Proudly supporting:

 

Severn Trent Careers

Severn Trent are an inclusive employer who put their young people first with apprenticeship and graduate programmes. Water is the most precious resource we have – you can help create a sustainable future for all.

Severn Trent Careers

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Email us at info@youthemployment.org.uk or call 01536 513388.

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