Škoda’s Proud employee group marks five years of LGBTQ+ inclusion work

Škoda Proud, an employee group at Škoda Auto, turns five this year. It is open to all staff and aims to build a fair, respectful and safe workplace for LGBTQ+ people and their colleagues. The anniversary comes shortly after the Czech car maker received a gold LGBTQ+ Friendly Employer 2026 award from Pride Business Forum.

Škoda Auto says its Škoda Proud employee group is celebrating its fifth anniversary. Any employee can join. The group runs meetups and learning sessions, both inside the company and outside it, to encourage dialogue and mutual understanding. According to the manufacturer, this helps make the workplace fair, respectful and safe for LGBTQ+ employees and for the wider workforce.

Gold award from Pride Business Forum

Pride Business Forum recently gave Škoda Auto a gold LGBTQ+ Friendly Employer 2026 award. It recognises what the company calls its sustained work on diversity and inclusion. Škoda says its diversity initiatives cover a broad range of topics, including equal opportunities, consideration for others and mutual understanding.

Fifth year at Prague Pride, with the Elroq Respectline

In August, Škoda Auto supported the Prague Pride Festival for the fifth time. Employees and their families joined the parade to represent the company. They were accompanied by the Škoda Elroq Respectline, a colourful version of the brand’s electric SUV that the company describes as a symbol of diversity and mutual respect.

A conference on inclusion in industry

On 17 September, the Škoda Museum in Mladá Boleslav hosted a conference called ‘Built on People: LGBTQ+ in Czech Industry’. More than 200 people attended. Škoda Proud and Pride Business Forum organised the event together. Through expert discussions and workshops, it looked at inclusion in manufacturing workplaces, where workforces are large and often traditional.

What it means

This is not product news. It shows how a large manufacturer is presenting its work culture at a time when car makers compete hard for engineering and production staff. Škoda is based in Mladá Boleslav and is one of the biggest industrial employers in the Czech Republic. Its high-profile involvement in Pride events and an industry conference sets out a clear position on inclusion within Czech manufacturing.

Škoda Proud continues its programme of meetups and learning sessions for Škoda Auto employees.

Source: vimeo.com