At Enterprise, we always celebrate the differences that make us unique, we’re highlighting our colleagues who are members and allies of the LGBTQ community. Dylan has been with Enterprise a little over a year and he is excited about the responsibility he already has: he’s an active member of our Diversity Committee and was asked to design Enterprise’s PRIDE lanyard. He kindly agreed to take some time away from his busy schedule as a Management Assistant in one of our retail branches, to answer a few questions:
What initially attracted you to a career at Enterprise?
It’s the progression, really. Not only how quickly you can progress, but also the fact that there are so many different avenues you can take with your career. I found out about Enterprise’s Management Trainee Programme at a careers fair at university. I was speaking to a member of the recruitment team and she told me all about how you can pretty much do whatever you want in the business: retail, finance, marketing or HR. You can pretty much do anything and go anywhere. It was the thought of being able to take charge of my career that got me interested.
Tell us a little bit about your career with Enterprise. How did you start and how did you get to where you are now?
I started just over a year ago and the time has gone so quickly. It’s very fast-paced. I started at the Waverley Station branch, which looks after a lot of retail business. After four months there, I was transferred to Edinburgh Airport. My Area Manager believed that exposure to different types of branches and serving different types of customers, would help me progress a lot quicker. The airport was a different environment and I had time to work through my Management Training folder, which I completed within seven months of joining, I was then on-track to apply for Assistant Manager roles.
Why do you enjoy working for Enterprise?
You get to meet so many different types of people. At the airport you get to meet happy people on their holidays and you also get to meet people from so many different cultures. I like being out in the open and meeting lots of people, compared to an office job where you see the same people every day.
What has surprised you most about working at Enterprise?
I think that it’s the fact that you can literally do anything. I think back to my conversation with the recruitment colleague at my university careers fair when she told me I could do anything. I designed Enterprise’s new PRIDE lanyard that was used at a diversity and inclusion event last year. I never expected when I started with the company that I would get to do something like that. Enterprise lets you take control of your own career and you can progress at your own pace. The more motivated you are, the quicker you can progress.
When did you come out at work? Was it early or late in your Enterprise career? Why is it important for you to be out at work?
I came out before I started working at Enterprise. I am one of those people that’s really open. I am comfortable with who I am, and I would rather someone knows about it. With me you can probably tell, before I even speak. I don’t want people to feel uncomfortable asking a question or feeling that they are going the wrong way about it. I am a really open person so I would rather people know and then they can ask me anything and I am comfortable enough to be able to answer.
Do you have any LGBTQ role models at work?
I am on the Diversity Committee and my colleague Bruce is a role model to me. Bruce is the Head of Risk for Scotland and it is good to see that he’s really high up within the business and that his sexual orientation isn’t something that has hindered his progression.
How does Enterprise support LGBTQ employees and allies?
The fact that there is a Diversity Committee. We haven’t met for a while, because of COVID, but before this we would meet every quarter. It is nice knowing that there is a committee dedicated to making sure that people of a diverse background have a voice. If there are any issues, everyone knows who is on the committee and who they can go to if they aren’t happy about anything. There aren’t a lot of employers that have support networks like this. In my old workplace there was no such thing as a Diversity Committee. It’s not a common thing, so it’s reassuring that Enterprise recognises that everyone needs support – regardless of their background.
Does Enterprise embody an inclusive work environment? What does that look, sound and feel like?
Yes, 100%. I think it’s the type of people we employ. With everyone that I have come across, no one is judgemental, and everyone accepts you for who you are. I feel that that it comes down to the application process, who gets through and gets offered the job. I feel it’s an extensive process to make sure they find the right people, knowing that they will be inclusive and that they won’t be judgemental of people just because they are different – whether it’s gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or even socio-economic background.
What has it been like to work for Enterprise during the time of COVID-19?
I have worked right the way through. It’s been a breath of fresh air. I haven’t felt like I’ve been in lockdown because I have kept my same routine. Also, my partner and I are in the middle of adopting a child, so it has been so stressful in the house because of that. All of our social worker meetings have been through video calls and we officially passed the adoption panel two weeks ago. Because it’s been so stressful with everything going on in my home life (my partner is also a nurse working in a hospital’s intensive care unit), coming into work has helped to take my mind off of everything. So, it has actually been better that I have been at work.
How have your perceptions of Enterprise changed since COVID-19?
My perceptions haven’t changed. I feel like everyone is even more careful now, in terms of cleanliness. We had strict protocols in place before, but obviously it’s now the top priority for everyone. We’re really just making sure that our customers are looked after, everyone still has the same priority which is making sure customers get what they need.
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