On Saturday 7 March, team members from Property Service and Facility Management wore their Programmed t-shirts with pride and participated in the Wellington International Pride Parade.
Building a culture of respect is a key element of our diverse and inclusive workforce. The inclusion of all employees, regardless of their backgrounds, sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status is an important part of our diversity and inclusion strategy.
The Wellington International Pride Parade is an event created with the aim of building a platform to enable those who follow to create a moment in their lives where they can stop, acknowledge, raise their eyes and look to the future. So, when we were approached by the Wellington Pride committee to see if Programmed would like to be part this year, we jumped at the chance to be involved.
The theme was “WATER; Dive into your Pride – TE WAI; Tō Mana. Whakarukuhia!”
Water symbolizes nourishment, life, motion, renewal, reflection, growth; so as the Wellington International Pride Parade grows, we want our community to grow as well.
Programmed was one of the many businesses to celebrate and support the event. The team of volunteers from our branches got together to participate in the parade and show their commitment to diversity and inclusion whist representing Programmed.
Chris Hamblin, Branch Manager for the Property Services Porirua branch who was key in organising the event summed up the day.
“It was great that Programmed was part of the Wellington international Pride Parade. The Programmed float included dances from Society Entertainment.”
Richard Tait Co Chair for WIPP said that “Programmed had brought Mardi Gras to Wellington. 19 staff and family from both PFM and PPS came out to celebrate the Wellington Pride Parade. Wellington turned a great day with an estimated 50,000 people lining Courtney place for the parade.
To incorporate the theme of Water, Programmed gave away 500 drink bottles that were well received by the public.”
