WSP wins Diversity Award for the second time

Consultancy WSP won the ITS World Congress Award for Best Action for Supporting Diversity. The trophy was presented at the ITS World Congress in Copenhagen.

The award recognises the engineering and business services company’s initiative to encourage and enable LGBT+ people to feel comfortable working in the sector. 

WSP’s initiative is called VIBE, which stands for Visibility and Inclusion in the Built Environment. Launched in 2015, VIBE has evolved into WSP’s LGBT+ employee network. It aims to support the day-to-day visibility and inclusion of the company’s LGBT+ workforce and ensure everyone at WSP can “be their best by being themselves”. 

WSP is a member of the Stonewall Diversity Champions programme, a UK best practice employers' forum for sexual orientation and gender identity equality, diversity and inclusion. 

The company has established a “Diversity in Leadership” policy for its business. It has run a Pride Matters video campaign profiling the diverse nature of its workforce as well as hosting a “Diversity in Leadership” seminar for clients and an “Equali-Tea” networking event hearing from transgender leaders debunking myths and sharing tips. 

“It’s not just the right thing to do,” said Ian Patey, WSP’s UK head of profession for ITS, who became a VIBE ambassador in 2017. “Diversity is critical in building the culture of innovation, engagement and performance that will help us deliver exceptional results for our clients, our employees, and the communities in which we operate.” 

The award was judged by ITS professionals from around the world; Sharon Easley of e-squared in the US, Barry Pekilis of the National Research Council in Canada, ITS Australia CEO Susan Harris, Grace Ong of LTA Singapore, Maarja Rannama from ITS Estonia and Jeff Marengwa of the city of Hamburg. 

This is the second time the company has been recognised at the congress, having won an award at the Bordeaux Congress in 2015.