Škoda Proud marks five years as Škoda Auto wins gold for LGBTQ+ inclusion
Škoda Auto is marking five years of its Škoda Proud employee group, which now has around 215 members and has helped the carmaker earn gold in the LGBTQ+ Friendly Employer 2026 awards.
- 5
- ~215
- 30+
- 600+
What Happened
Škoda Proud was founded in 2021 to build a community for LGBTQ+ colleagues and their allies, and it has welcomed all employees from the outset. The employee resource group currently has around 215 members and, in the past year, organised more than 30 workshops, training sessions and informal meetups. It also collaborates with employee groups across the Volkswagen Group and with companies from different industries, sharing experiences through Pride Business Forum, where Škoda Auto is a premium member. For its contribution to diversity, equity and inclusion, Škoda Proud received the Employee-Driven Initiative Award from Pride Business Forum. Employee resource groups more broadly are set up by employees and open to all colleagues, providing opportunities to connect, share experiences, learn and address current workplace issues.
“Over the past five years, dedicated colleagues and allies have helped shape Škoda Proud into the strong and vibrant network it is today. With the support of Škoda Auto, this employee network plays an important role in fostering a corporate culture built on respect and mutual understanding. It creates opportunities for LGBTQ+ employees to connect, share experiences, and support one another, while helping to build an environment where every Škodian feels safe and able to be their authentic selves. My sincere thanks go to everyone who contributes to this network and helps make Škoda Auto a place where diversity is valued.”
- Škoda Proud — a community for LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies, founded in 2021 and open to all employees
- Internationals@Škoda
- WomeN@work
~215
The group was founded in 2021 and is open to all Škoda Auto employees.
Škoda Proud is founded to build a community for LGBTQ+ colleagues and their allies.
More than 600 Škoda Auto employees attend events for European Diversity Month.
Škoda Auto supports the Prague Pride Festival for the fifth time; employees and their families join the parade, accompanied by the Škoda Elroq Respectline. The Škoda zone features the new Epiq and an exhibition marking Škoda Proud's fifth anniversary.
The Škoda Museum in Mladá Boleslav hosts the 'Built on People: LGBTQ+ in Czech Industry' conference with more than 200 participants, organised by Škoda Proud and Pride Business Forum.
Škoda Auto receives gold in the LGBTQ+ Friendly Employer 2026 awards organised by Pride Business Forum.
Škoda Auto received gold in the LGBTQ+ Friendly Employer 2026 awards organised by Pride Business Forum, which bases the awards on a detailed assessment using criteria including leadership involvement and the work of employee groups. More than 600 Škoda Auto employees attended this year's European Diversity Month events. The carmaker's diversity initiatives cover gender balance, promoting an international workforce and collaboration across generations. It also provides support tailored to employees' individual needs, for example through strong family-friendly policies and support for employees with disabilities or health conditions.
Why this matters
The milestone shows how an automaker's employee network can support LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies while shaping workplace culture. It directly concerns Škoda Auto employees and highlights the company's public work on inclusion in Czech industry and manufacturing workplaces.
Terms in This Story
- Employee resource groups (ERGs)
- Employee-led groups that are open to colleagues and provide opportunities to connect, share experiences, learn and address workplace issues.
- LGBTQ+
- An acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning people.
- Pride Business Forum
- An organization that works on LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace and runs employer awards and networking initiatives.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.