TODAY'S Pride parade will be awash with a sea of rainbow houses as one of the town's largest employers once again hits the streets to spread a message of equality and diversity.

Nationwide will join this morning's parade with their largest contingent of employees so far - more than doubling their efforts last year, with colleagues from all level of the business coming together to take part.

For Jon Keating, who works in Operations at Nationwide, this year's parade will be especially poignant. He said: “For the first time, I can walk proudly with all my family and friends, as well as my partner, to celebrate love and inclusion from all walks of life. I came out to my dad this year – the last of my family members to find out – so this is more important to me than any other year so far. All this support from everyone has helped me to grow more comfortable in my own skin than ever before, and I will demonstrate this in the march with a smile on my face and my partner’s hand in mine. No one should be ashamed to love, whatever their demographic.”

Tony Prestedge, Nationwide's chief relationships and distribution officer recently became the executive internal sponsor for the building society's gender identity and sexual orientation agenda. He said: "Taking part in Swindon Pride is an important event for us to be involved in, and I am delighted that we have nearly doubled the number of employees taking part in Friday's event, with employees and allies walking together.

"I am looking forward to working with our LGBT employee network to continue driving the agenda forward and raising awareness amongst our people and our members."

Paul Hicks, service specialist at Nationwide in Swindon said that the world would be a far duller place without diversity: “Walking in Pride is my small way to show everyone that difference to be celebrated. Whether it be religion, race, sexuality or even the colour of your hair, we are all unique. The world would be unbearable without friendship and unity."

Lucy Westbrook, Nationwide's HR manager at Nationwide explained that pride was the ideal opportunity to teach youngsters about tolerance and acceptance. She said: “Walking at Swindon Pride was a really memorable experience, such a celebration of difference. It’s matters to me that my daughter understands how privileged she is to live in a time and a country that is more accepting of people’s differences, and that she grows up to support anyone who is struggling with who they are – as it’s okay to be who you are.”

Matt Israel, co-chairman of the Nationwide LGBT Employee Network Group said: “I believe walking in Swindon Pride demonstrates a powerful commitment to LGBT equality, and is an opportunity to celebrate diversity and inclusion.”

His co-chair, Claire Pembroke-Burns, said: “Walking in the Pride parade is a great way of meeting new people from across Nationwide, by coming together to show what it’s like to be part of an organisation that recognises and values diversity in the workplace. Not to mention that it’s a fun day out, with a really great vibe.”

Karen Heaven, employee wellbeing and engagement consultant at Nationwide said: “Pride is important as an observance of life and human rights but ultimately it’s about the right to love whoever we want and for me, that is always worth celebrating.”

Emily Ryan, who previously carried out some work experience at Nationwide said: “I walked in my first Pride parade in Manchester when I was five years old, alongside my mums, brother and other LGBT families. My main memory was that it was fun and colourful.

"Of course, at that age I didn’t know why it was so important for people to be themselves and feel valued and accepted, but I realise now how relevant that is to peoples' wellbeing. This will be the first time I’ve walked in Swindon Pride and I’m walking to show my commitment to equality, as well as visibly show my friends and family that I accept them for everything they are and everything that makes them unique.”