Rebecca has had a long career with us and has been an Ombudsman since 2017. She is an active member and Co-chair of our internal LGBTQIA+ employee network, OutRight.
At the Financial Ombudsman Service, fairness is at the heart of what we do. That means helping people resolve financial complaints fairly and impartially. It also means creating a workplace where colleagues feel respected, supported and able to be themselves.
This year, colleagues from across the service came together to represent us at London Pride. For some, it was a celebration. For others, it was a chance to connect with colleagues from different locations. For everyone involved, it was a visible reminder of the importance of inclusion, allyship and community at work.
For people thinking about joining the Financial Ombudsman Service, events like Pride show something important about life here: our work is serious, but our culture is human. We are a national organisation with colleagues working across different hubs and teams, and our employee networks help people build relationships, share experiences and shape a more inclusive workplace.
Showing up together
Colleagues joined the London Pride parade as part of the OutRight Network, our internal LGBTQIA+ employee network for colleagues and allies. The day brought people together from across the organisation to walk, talk, celebrate and support one another.
Charlotte, one of the colleagues who helped organise our involvement, said representing the service at London Pride “shows that we care about each other” and that the organisation is “accepting of the LGBTQIA+ community”. For her, helping plan the day meant giving colleagues the opportunity to show their love and support for the community.
Tim, who is based in our Coventry office, described Pride as a chance to meet colleagues informally from across the UK. “The Financial Ombudsman Service’s people are what makes it special,” he said. “The networks play a unique part in that.”
Belonging matters at work
Pride is a celebration, but visibility at Pride also matters. It sends a message to current and future colleagues that inclusion is not just something we say. It is something we work to demonstrate through our culture, our networks and the way we support one another.
As Tim put it, being able to march under the Financial Ombudsman Service banner, knowing he is supported and can bring his true self to work, is important. It also helps show that the people behind our service reflect and understand many of the different communities who use us.
That connection matters. Our role is to help resolve complaints between financial businesses and their customers fairly and impartially. To do that well, we need colleagues with different perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. A diverse and inclusive workplace helps us understand the people we serve and make decisions that feel fair to both sides.
What the OutRight Network does
OutRight is one of our employee networks. It provides support for LGBTQIA+ colleagues and allies, raises awareness of important dates and issues throughout the year, and gives colleagues a space to connect, learn and be heard.
The network also works with senior sponsors and HR colleagues to share insight on issues that may affect the community. Alongside that, it brings people together through events and socials across our hubs, including Belfast, Coventry, Manchester and Edinburgh, recognising that inclusion needs to be felt across the whole organisation, not only in London.
Planning for Pride takes time and collaboration. In the months leading up to the parade, OutRight worked with other LGBTQIA+ network representatives across financial services to plan practical details, including wristbands, shirts, meeting points and guidance for everyone taking part. Within the service, colleagues also worked with our Inclusion and Wellbeing Team and internal communications teams to make sure people knew how to get involved.
What Pride looked like on the day
On the day itself, colleagues met before the parade, collected wristbands and shirts, caught up with one another and made their way to join the route. The march was full of energy, colour and conversation, with colleagues walking together as part of a wider community of organisations, friends, families and allies.
After the parade, colleagues continued to spend time together nearby, making the most of the opportunity to connect outside of their day-to-day roles. For many, that sense of community is what made the day memorable: being able to celebrate, support one another and feel part of something bigger.
Why this matters if you are thinking about joining us
Choosing where to work is about more than a job description. It is about purpose, culture and whether you can see yourself belonging there. At the Financial Ombudsman Service, colleagues help resolve real problems for consumers, small businesses and financial firms. The work can be complex and challenging, but it is also meaningful.
We want to attract people who are thoughtful, fair-minded and curious, people who want to use their judgement, skills and experience to make a practical difference. We also want colleagues to feel supported to grow, contribute and bring their perspectives into the work we do.
Employee networks like OutRight are part of that. They help create spaces where colleagues can share experiences, learn from one another and influence the organisation. They also give allies practical ways to show support and help build a workplace where people can perform at their best.
A place to do work with purpose
Representing the Financial Ombudsman Service at London Pride is one example of how our colleagues bring our values to life. It reflects the kind of organisation we are continuing to build: one where fairness starts with how we treat each other, and where inclusion helps us deliver a better service for everyone who comes to us for help.
If you are looking for work with purpose, where your decisions can make a difference and where colleagues are supported to be themselves, we would love you to consider a career with us.
You can explore current opportunities, and find out more about life at the Financial Ombudsman, on our careers pages.