We take pride in our DEI – and it’s also good for business

Bord Gáis Energy MD Dave Kirwan says fostering a welcoming culture results in happier, more productive employees

Dave Kirwan, Bord Gais Energy MD. Last year, 55 colleagues, partners, spouses and family members from Bord Gáis Energy celebrated Cork Pride together.

These are challenging times, when fragmentation and division are more the norm than the exception. For those of us lucky enough to have benefitted from growing up in an equitable society, and developing our careers in companies that valued and respected difference, it feels like a time when we should invest more, not less, effort in signalling the importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).

I’m proud, and determined, that at Bord Gáis Energy our commitment remains unwavering. We believe in building a diverse workforce and fostering a culture where everyone feels they belong.

We’re once again taking part in Cork Pride on August 3, led by our BRÓD Network – “bród” being the Irish word for pride. Established by colleagues in 2017, BRÓD was our first employee network, created to champion inclusion. Today, it continues to inspire our approach to visibility, allyship and action.

Last year, 55 colleagues, partners, spouses and family members from Bord Gáis Energy celebrated Cork Pride together. As a company with deep roots in Cork, it was a powerful and memorable day, and a reflection of how we live our values. Ireland’s recent celebration of the 10-year anniversary of the Marriage Equality Referendum reminds us what progress looks like when we choose inclusion. 

A decade on, we should be basking in the glow of a more mature and all-embracing society, recent events in other countries and indeed our own remind us that whilst we may have ‘righted some wrongs of the past’ we need to do more to fundamentally embed inclusion across our society.

Our renewed commitment to Cork Pride comes at a time of exciting growth for Bord Gáis Energy in the city. Since acquiring Swyft Energy last year, our Cork office has expanded by 50%. As we welcomed new colleagues on-site, we also welcomed their positive feedback about our culture – feedback that reaffirms the value of embedding diversity and inclusion into our everyday working lives.

Because DEI isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s also good for business. When people feel safe to be themselves at work, they bring more creativity, commitment and energy to what they do. I see it every day. 

Our LGBTQ+ colleagues – and allies like me – are already looking forward to this year’s Cork Pride, themed “A Fearless Future. Your Pride, Your Culture.” It’s a theme that speaks directly to the kind of workplace we’re building: one where LGBTQ+ identity is seen and supported, and where inclusion is a lived value, not just a statement.

Pride is an important moment of visibility and celebration. But inclusion must also show up in the everyday – in how we hire, lead, and support each other. 

We’ve grown a strong, network-led culture – with seven employee-led DEI networks now in place. These include BRÓD, our Women’s Network, REACH (our multicultural network), the Neurodiversity Network, the Working Parents Network, the Carers Network, and our Mental Health First Aiders. These networks don’t just support colleagues – they shape policy, advise leadership, and help make our culture more inclusive and responsive.

Each network has a senior leadership sponsor. I sponsor BRÓD, and support the important work they do. One of the network’s recent achievements was supporting the introduction of transitioning guidelines to ensure our transgender colleagues feel safe, respected and supported at work.

BRÓD has also shaped our presence outside the business. In 2022, it played a central role in research we commissioned, showing that more than three-quarters of people want to see sports stars support the LGBTQ+ community, and 84% believe sport can help promote positive discussions around inclusivity. 

Our efforts are making a difference. In our Our Voice colleague survey, Bord Gáis Energy’s diversity and inclusion scores regulary rank in the top 5% of the energy and utilities industry. That tells me our people see the impact of the culture we’ve built – one that supports higher engagement, stronger retention and better business performance.

Pride is not just a moment. It’s a movement – and we’re fully behind it.