MI6 lights up headquarters for Pride in London for the first time ever
The headquarters for the Secret Intelligence Service and MI6, is to light up in rainbow colours for Pride for the first time.
It was announced today that as of tonight, the London headquarters of the agency in Vauxhall, will be lit up for the first time ever.
The lighting-up comes as tens of thousands are expected to flood the streets tomorrow for Pride in London.
In a release today the agency said it hoped it would become a yearly tradition.
Chief, Alex Younger, said, of diversity in MI6: “Our people are our strength, our most precious asset. They are what makes MI6 the world renowned institution it is. What we have in common is a determination to make a difference to the things that matter to our country; keeping our nation safe and prosperous. This is our shared purpose. But I want this shared purpose to be achieved by a workforce as diverse as the country it serves.
“As you will expect, our mission is challenging and complex. Our aspiration is to create a workforce of individuals as unique as the challenges we face. We recognise that the more diverse the contribution, the better the solution and the greater the impact of our work. We need to harness the talent and diversity that Britain has to offer. It is our ability to do so that will give us the critical edge over our adversaries, both now and in the future.”
Adding: “As an equal opportunities employer, we recruit, train and promote based on merit. We value and encourage difference, including background, perspectives and working styles. We have various work streams to ensure we make the most of the huge range of skills our staff hold and we endeavour to accommodate personal circumstances. An increasing proportion of our workforce work part time or flexibly according to their preference. This adds to our agility as we work in increasingly diverse ways.
“We are determined to continue to build on the progress we have made to build an inclusive and representative Service. So, if you are tempted, interested, or teetering on the edge of pressing that button – maybe you think you aren’t ‘from the right mould’, don’t have the ‘correct’ experience or did not go to the right university(!) – I would urge you, strongly, to apply. Anyone who shares our commitment and values will be half of the way there. And you might just find the career you’ve been looking for!”
The building will be lit up from tonight to Sunday evening.
MI6 previously flew the rainbow flag at the iconic headquarters to mark IDAHOT.
Earlier this week the Metropolitan Police Chief vowed to keep Pride in London safe – as extra officers are drafted in for security in the wake of a shooting at a gay club in Orlando which left 49 dead and 53 injured.
Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the head of London’s Metropolitan Police, spoke to press including PinkNews ahead of a meeting with LGBT business leaders, following the attack in Orlando.
