Defence Inclusivity Award
Winner: Susan Coleman
In her role at The Royal British Legion, Susan Coleman ensures there’s a safe environment for any serving personnel or veterans of any sexuality to feel valued and to be themselves. Her new position as the RBL’s Champion for LGBTQ will ensure that her fantastic work in Brighton is now replicated nationwide, and across other minority groups too.
Sponsored by: Landmarc
Award presented by: Rt Hon Tobias Ellwood MP, Minister for Defence People and Veterans
Susan Coleman said: “I am incredibly to proud to have received this award. I can genuinely say I am not only accepting this for my achievements, but in recognition of the countless generations of servicemen and women who served in a much less tolerant, inclusive and celebratory culture than the one that prevails in our Armed Forces today. Also to recognise the battle was hard-fought and we must be constantly aware and vigilant that no young serviceman or women ever again feels the need to hide who they are.”
Steve Utley, Managing Director at Landmarc Support Services said, “Here at Landmarc, our responsibility as a partner to the Armed Forces extends across all our activities, whether it’s providing the best training facilities for our serving troops or providing employment opportunities when personnel return to civilian life. Our People Strategy reinforces our commitment to ensuring all employees feel valued, enjoy good health and rewarding work, have access to personal and professional development opportunities and most of all, are treated fairly. A key objective of this strategy is to look at ways of increasing diversity in our workforce so that it is more reflective of the communities in which we operate. The progress that society has made to ensure ‘opportunities for all’ should not be underestimated but we need to keep the dialogue alive. By sponsoring the ‘Defence Inclusivity’ award, we hope to learn from the successes of our amazing finalists and help to fly the flag for our inspirational servicemen and women and all those who support them. Congratulations to Susan Coleman”.
