This June marks PRIDE Month, where LGBTQ+ communities worldwide come together and celebrate the freedom to be themselves.
Today is the second instalment of our PRIDE in our People series and features Tom Cotterill, from Plant Launch. Tom has shared his story with us about his LBGTQ+ personal experiences and working in manufacturing.
Were you open about your sexual orientation when you started at JLR?
“No, I was certainly not. I was 20 when I joined the company - so I was young, and it was daunting. At that age, it felt difficult entering a word I wasn’t familiar with, especially one which I perceived was predominantly male and heterosexual. There was also an element of the fear of the unknown which came into play during my early days here which held me back from opening up to others around me.”
What was your perception on starting work and how it would be received?
“My mum had always told me that most companies prefer to employ people who are settled with children. This assumption stuck in my mind, so I decided to supress everything and focus on my work and the studies I had to complete.”
How was it received by your workgroups/peers?
“I tell the people I am close to that I am gay, but I don’t feel I need to shout it from the rooftop. I have noticed that conversations around me have changed slightly since I have opened up about it, so there are less questions about girlfriends or relationships. The natural flow of conversation has remained, but I feel my colleagues have respected me more for being honest with them.”
Have you got any advice you’d like to share?
“Everyone is different, and personality can play a big role in this too. If someone feels comfortable enough to be open about who they are, that’s OK. But if you don’t feel the need to disclose it, or need more time to be comfortable with it, that is also fine.
“The Halewood PRIDE Network is also there to support you and offer advice if you need it or just want someone to talk too. If something is worrying you, please speak up and know you can speak to us.
“It’s more important than ever to create a safe, inclusive, diverse working environment for everyone at Halewood, as we drive forward with our new purpose to deliver the exceptional with soul. The soul to me is our people and we need to look after our people and ensure they can be come to work and be their authentic selves in order to deliver our exceptional products - it goes hand-in-hand.
Tom added: “I would also like to thank my colleagues for all their support both in and outside of work. It really does bring to light the true Halewood spirit that sets our factory apart.”
If you would like to find out more about the Halewood PRIDE Network and how to join, please contact the Halewood Pride Network lead, Kim Challis.
