Embracing allyship through our employee networks

Starting my career at Virgin Media O2

My Virgin Media O2 career officially began when I started the Finance Graduate Scheme in 2023. When applying for graduate jobs, I knew I wanted to prioritise companies which focused on development and inclusion. Landing on the Virgin Media O2 careers website, the tone immediately felt warm, welcoming, and ‘human’. I was open to different career paths at the time, but one thing I knew was that the vibe of Virgin Media O2 was the type of place I wanted to start my career in.

Experiencing London Pride with our Proudly network

A standout area during my career at Virgin Media O2 has been our employee networks. They create meaningful, engaging and fun opportunities to build an inclusive community, as opposed to a hygiene factor and for me, that means a lot. Each year there’s a variety of events both within the offices and at external venues, reinforcing the importance of belonging.

One of my favourite events from 2025 was attending my first London Pride with our Proudly network. Whilst I don’t identify as LGBTQ+, I see myself as an ally. Something shaped by my time at Leeds University, where I had a large group of friends who identified across the queer spectrum. I tend to avoid crowds however, the planning from the Proudly co-chairs was reassuring. Rather than being amongst the crowds (and the associated nervousness), I got the unique opportunity to see the historic parade from the top of our Pride bus.

Celebrating culture with our Enrich network

Another unforgettable moment was our Black History Month closing event hosted by our Enrich network. This included panel discussions from colleagues who shared how their cultural backgrounds have shaped how they navigate the corporate world. It also included some incredible West African and Caribbean food and fantastic music (although I missed the Supermalt).

Creating space, support and representation

For me, these events show Virgin Media O2’s genuine commitment to ensuring their employee networks have the funding, executive sponsorship and autonomy to support the communities our employee networks serve.

In a time when organisations are cutting DE&I initiatives, Virgin Media O2 is doing the opposite and emphasising the message that not only do the causes and necessity of these networks matter, but also that they want employees to be investing their time into the causes which are close to them.

What I've learned from our employee networks

1. I believe additional opportunities for colleagues to collaborate and learn from each other should be standard, something we get at Virgin Media O2.

2. Being part of a company that values what life can throw at us by leaning in our values of Brave, Real and Together and creating a place where our networks can thrive and grow, shows the commitment they have to improve the environments we work in.

Employees value company culture more than anything and here at Virgin Media O2 it feels like a priority. If you are considering a job at Virgin Media O2, join us and make use of our great employee networks.