A GROUP of workers from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), which is based at Porton Down, took part in the Pride parade in London.

Dstl employees from Porton were joined by colleagues from Sevenoaks and Portsmouth to joine a record 20,000 on the March.

Dstl chief executive Jonathan Lyle said: “At Dstl we want to employ the very best scientists, engineers and professionals and to provide an inclusive working environment in which everyone’s contribution is valued and respected.

“So it’s great that Dstl people joined with service and civilian colleagues at Pride in London to show their pride in Dstl and to celebrate the vibrant and inclusive culture that we have at Dstl.”

Charley Goughleads, of the LGBT network at Dstl, said the progress that has been made in Dstl is something that should be celebrated: “I was supported to set up an LGBT network about 18 months ago and at that point we had no open LGBT role models who people could look to in Dstl.

“We have changed that and now even have an allies programme which allows people who aren’t LGBT themselves to show they are supportive of their LGBT colleagues being able to be themselves at work.

“I firmly believe that if you can’t be yourself, you can’t be your best, and the work we do for the defence and security of the UK is too important for people to be anything less than their best.”