At South West Water, we’re committed to fostering a diverse, progressive workforce where everyone feels welcome. We caught up with our Customer Care Representative, Cat, to hear all about their first impressions of South West Water and why being part of a diverse workplace is so important to them.

Hi, Cat! We’d love to know about your first impressions of South West Water as an employer - can you tell us a bit about your experience?
When I finished college last year, I went straight into a full-time job. Although the company promoted its inclusivity, unfortunately, this was not my experience. So when I interviewed for South West Water, one of my first questions was about diversity and inclusivity in the company. As a gender-nonconforming lesbian, it's always a bit of a worry going into a new workplace and being conscious that maybe not everyone is going to accept you. I was warmly welcomed at South West Water and felt instantly at home - my differences weren’t just accepted but valued.

How has South West Water supported you so far?
I never expected such a massive amount of overwhelming support - not just from my co-workers but from managers, senior managers, HR, everyone. They're all so accepting and lovely. I waltzed in at the beginning saying, 'Hey, my pronouns are they and them, and I'll tell you that right now so I can get all the judgemental looks out the way'. There wasn't a single glance or a second look. Everyone was like, 'Okay, yeah' and just got on with things.
 

"I never expected such a massive amount of overwhelming
support - not just from my co-workers but from managers,
senior managers, HR, everyone."


What does the future hold for you at South West Water?
I'm really enjoying my job but I'm aiming to become 'dual skilled', so I can branch out into other departments like Services, dealing with metre readers, burst pipes, that kind of thing. That looks really interesting. There are so many paths you can take in this firm. I know some people who started at 19 doing the same job as me and they're still at South West Water 12 years later working as Project Managers.

Feeling inspired by Cat’s story? We’re always looking for more passionate people to join our diverse workforce - discover our current opportunities now.

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