Resource content
Context: Scottish Water recognises the importance of employee-led groups in supporting its equality, diversity and inclusion agenda. The Belong Network, which comprises all employee-led groups, has continued to grow since 2021. Senior Leadership sponsors have been brought together regularly to strengthen support for the Network, and each group has been given additional resources.
Approach: Scottish Water operates a Belong Network of ten employee-led groups, each with its own aims and objectives shaped by the communities it represents. Each group is supported by dedicated network leads, core members, and at least one senior leader sponsor. The underpinning principles of the Belong Network are inclusion and bringing people together.
Implementation:
- Established ten employee-led groups covering: Armed Forces, Carers, disABILITY, Generation Plus (mid-life employees), LGBT+ and Allies, Multicultural, Neurodiversity, NxtGen (early career), Parents Supporting Parents, and Women in Scottish Water.
- Each group is supported by dedicated network leads, core members, and a senior leadership sponsor.
- Groups are involved on a regular basis when employee experience survey results are reviewed and when business changes are proposed, providing employee voice in organisational decision-making.
- Senior Leadership sponsors are brought together regularly to strengthen collective support for the Network.
- Groups provide psychologically safe environments for peer support, practical support, and shared lived experience.
- Networks engage externally, including community events, external partnerships, and national campaigns (e.g. Pride events, Poppy Scotland, International Women’s Day).
- Individual networks have delivered specific initiatives, including:
– Carers’ Cafés and workshops with Age Scotland (Carers’ Network);
– physical workplace environment improvements (disABILITY Forum);
– DILO (day in the life of) experiences and engagement with Career Ready (NxtGen);
– a Careers Map championing women in STEM (Women in Scottish Water); and
– awareness raising and peer support for neurodivergent colleagues (Neurodiversity Network).
Impact:
- Overall Belong Network membership has grown across all groups between 2021 and 2024, with increases ranging from 7% (Multicultural Network) to 60% (Parents Supporting Parents).
- The Neurodiversity Network launched in 2024 and reached 172 members.
- Scottish Water achieved Gold status in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (Armed Forces Network) and Exemplary status in the Carer Positive Award (Carers’ Network).
- The Neurodiversity Network was instrumental in Scottish Water achieving a Neuro Champion award in the category of Inclusive Employer from the Celebrating Neurodiversity Awards 2024.
- Employee survey responses indicate that the Belong Network is positively perceived by staff as supporting inclusion, wellbeing, and a sense of community.
- 8% of colleagues identified as carers in the most recent Employee Experience survey, reflecting increased visibility of caring responsibilities.
- The disABILITY Forum contributed to positive changes to physical workplace environments.