Community and Allyship at Virgin Media O2: My DE&I Journey

My career at Virgin Media O2

My career with Virgin Media O2 started in an O2 store in Norwich when I was 16 years old. I still remember the excitement and buzz of the first iPhone launch. That was a cool first day.

What I didn’t realise at the time was that I was beginning a career journey that would span more than a decade. In that time, I’ve worked as a Territory Trainer for our Stores Estate team, building capability through training. I then carried out an apprenticeship, gaining a qualification that helped me land into the role as a DE&I Specialist. Since then, I’ve been promoted to a DE&I Partner, where I now help shape culture, belonging and employee experience across the organisation.

One of the things I’m most grateful for is having built my career within Virgin Media O2. I’ve had the opportunity to learn from incredible people, take on new challenges, and feel safe to be curious, test new ideas and grow.

I’ve helped on initiatives such as Ally Up, our always-on programme that gives our employees practical insights and tools through workshops to help them understand the barriers faced by marginalised groups. The best part is seeing how our people have been engaging with these programmes. Our Ally Up workshops have delivered more than 1,000 hours of employee learning. They reflect the consistent appetite people have at Virgin Media O2 to deepen their own awareness of psychological safety, workplace inequalities, and inclusive behaviours.

DE&I

This year’s Pride theme of community and allyship resonates strongly with me, because both have played an important role throughout my career.

As a gay man, I have always understood the value of having people around you who make you feel supported, respected and able to be yourself. One of the most rewarding experiences for me was serving as Co-Chair of Proudly, our LGBTQIA+ employee network.

Being part of that network gave me a real sense of community. It allowed me to build relationships across the business, hear people’s stories and connect with colleagues I might have never met. It also gave me a deeper understanding of the different experiences that shape people’s working lives.

What stood out most was the power of community. When people feel connected to others who understand their experiences, it builds confidence, belonging and a sense of being part of something bigger.

One of the key benefits at Virgin Media O2 has been our neurodiversity healthcare benefit. Receiving an ADHD diagnosis later in life, and it being supported through work has helped me better understand myself and recognise the strengths I bring into the workplace, including creativity, curiosity and problem solving. It reinforced something I have seen throughout my career: when people are able to be themselves, great things happen.

Creating Impact Through Storytelling

One of the proudest moments in my career has been developing a concept from idea to a successful documentary titled ‘It’s All In Your Story’.

The project created a platform for employees to share personal experiences, including:

• Sexuality

• Neurodiversity

• Race and ethnicity

• Culture

• Gender identity

• Disability

• Carers experience

What made it so powerful was seeing how those stories created understanding, sparked conversation, and encouraged people to learn from experiences different from their own.

For me, it really brought to life the relationship between community and allyship.

• Community creates space for people to share their experiences.

• Allyship happens when others take the time to listen, learn and act.

Through learning programmes, employee networks, storytelling and everyday conversations, I have seen how small actions can have a meaningful impact on people’s confidence, sense of belonging and career progression.

Why it matters

You could say I grew up at Virgin Media O2, and I feel incredibly grateful for the people and leaders I have met along the way. There is a genuine recognition that inclusion sits at the heart of how we work and how we support one another.

Throughout my career at Virgin Media O2, I have experienced first-hand how community and allyship can help people feel more connected, more confident and more able to succeed. Sometimes it comes through formal initiatives like employee networks or development opportunities. Other times it’s much simpler, like colleagues looking out for each other or taking the time to listen.

Those moments matter, and they stay with you. This is supported at Virgin Media O2 through:

• Flexible and hybrid working options for many employees across our UK offices, including Reading, Paddington and Manchester.

• Career development opportunities and internal pathways, such as secondments and mentorship.

• Inclusive employee networks for women, LGBTQIA+, global majority, carers, disability and neurodiverse communities, all of which actively promote allyship.

• Mental health and wellbeing support through BUPA healthcare, alongside dedicated neurodiversity support for employees and their families.

They all play an important role in creating an environment where people feel valued and able to do their best work across our locations.

Looking forward

Pride is an important moment to celebrate progress, recognise the importance of allyship and continue creating spaces where everyone feels they belong.

If you are looking for a place where you can build your career, grow your skills and be part of a supportive and inclusive community, I would encourage you to explore jobs at Virgin Media O2.