Rainbow access cover unveiled outside Twickenham Stadium 

A Pride drain cover was unveiled by Thames Water outside Twickenham Stadium, on Tuesday 25 April 2023, to celebrate diversity and inclusion within the company’s workforce and the customers and communities it serves.   

 

The cover, located near Whitton Road in front of the stadium, has been painted in the rainbow colours which are symbolic of the LGBTQ+ movement along with black and brown to represent LGBTQ+ people from black and Asian backgrounds.  

 

The unique design also includes LGBTQ+ symbols along with the logos of Thames Water and the cover manufacturers, Wrekin Products and the slogan “Every rainbow needs a little water to shine”. 

 

The words, chosen by Thames Water employees, link to the company’s core purpose of water management and expresses how communities shine and thrive because of the diversity within them.  

 

The company has installed rainbow covers in Reading and Swindon where it has supported local annual Pride events. It has also previously commissioned two commemorative drain covers in London to mark the clearing of the infamous 2017 Whitechapel Fatberg and on Abbey Road to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Beatles album.  

 

Emily Goren, Chair of Thames Water Pride Network said: “We are delighted to be unveiling this unique cover at Twickenham Stadium. We’re proud to be an inclusive employer and want our workforce to represent the communities we serve.  

 

“The drain covers are there for all to see and are a perfect canvas to promote our values. This is a highly visible statement piece which reflects our appreciation to our LGBTQ+ employees and customers.  

 

“We’d like to thank our partners at Wrekin for making the cover and Cappagh for installing it for us and are proud to be part of a collaboration which works to support the LGBTQ+ community. 

 

"Whilst the cover will be a functional part of our wastewater network, we also hope people will be able to enjoy the artwork and LGBTQ+ members of the public feel seen and valued.”  

 

In the most recent Stonewall workplace equality (LGBT+) index, Thames Water were a Silver Award winner. The company’s employee Pride network was also awarded Highly Commended Employee Network Group status for its work on creating an inclusive and safe environment for LGBTQ+ colleagues.  

 

Thames Water recently announced the insourcing of its customer service call centre and engineering positions resulting in 550 new jobs as part of the company’s Turnaround plan. Locating the company’s call centre team in the UK will provide an improved and more reliable customer service to its 15 million customers.