Meet the Fathers of Centrica

The landscape of today’s work environment is evolving rapidly, presenting new challenges and opportunities that were scarcely imagined just a few years ago. As organisations strive to cultivate inclusive cultures that prioritise employee well-being, one crucial aspect often overlooked is the role of fathers in the workplace.

In honour of International Men’s Day, we turned the spotlight on the experiences of fathers at Centrica, who have shared their stories of balancing professional responsibilities with the joys and challenges of parenthood. Their insights reveal a fundamental truth: when fathers take an active role in family life, it contributes significantly to fostering a more equitable workplace for everyone.

Breaking the Stereotypes

“We started the Dad’s at Centrica group in 2021 with five dads from across the spectrum of the business. From our humble beginnings we’ve built the network to 150 members, all either dads, or allies and we place a strong focus on building community and conversation”, said co-chair Tom Johnson. 

These conversations are vital in dismantling the stereotypes surrounding parental responsibilities and promoting a culture where all caregivers are supported. By encouraging fathers to engage more openly in discussions about work-life balance, we can pave the way for a more supportive environment that ultimately benefits everyone—employees, families, and the organisation as a whole.

“We hold a semi-regular drop-in call named Breaking Dad; the name taken from a shared love of the Breaking Bad TV show, and not necessarily a role model for fatherly wisdom. This grew into a chat that now regularly sees fathers coming together to share their highs, lows, and everything in the middle; knowing that they’re supported and cheered on by equally committed fathers & men.”

Creating a Supportive Work Environment

A large part of the network focus is on building a safe environment where men can feel comfortable in being vulnerable and honest with each other to provide support, education, and advice on their experiences of parenthood.

“We held a great Back2School event this year where parents from across Centrica sat on a panel and were asked to share their stories and be asked questions by dads in the network. This is exactly the kind of event we’re looking to push forward with in 2025. The big question we’re asking is, “How do we bring dads and parents together to share their experiences and grow our relationships with our kids?”

We heard from a few members of the Centrica Dads group to find out what the network means to them.

Jamie’s Story

I’m a proud dad to my little girl, Raya, who is 4 years old and an absolute miracle to us. Raya was born after four rounds of IVF following years of trying to become parents. The journey was long and filled with challenges, and after the third attempt, I was close to accepting that we might not become parents. The physical and emotional toll of IVF on my fiancé, coupled with the heartbreak of unsuccessful attempts, made me think about exploring other options like adoption.

However, my fiancé felt we should give IVF one last try—and thankfully, we did. That decision brought us our little miracle, Raya.

Life changed overnight when Raya was born. Nothing could have prepared me for the experience of becoming a parent. She arrived during a lockdown, which added its own challenges and, in hindsight, impacted my mental health. Having a network of people to turn to is pivotal in navigating both parenting and life, and I’m grateful to have found the Dads at Centrica network.

I joined this year after my manager pointed me towards it, and I’ve already experienced the value it brings. The network provides support, connection, and opportunities for dads across Centrica. Recently, my little girl won a fancy dress competition through the network, and she was absolutely over the moon!

It’s a pleasure to be part of this community. I look forward to connecting with other dads, sharing experiences, and offering help and advice wherever I can.

Jeremy's Story

In April 2024 my wife and I separated, and it was all a blur to me. A new life was suddenly happening and being the dad of a 4-year-old, I needed to make sure I was still ‘dad’ whilst dealing with a lot of other things.

The Centrica network ‘breaking dad’ was so important to me at that time and still is today. I remember reaching out in this safe space and getting support from other dads offering immediately to help, including some offering to travel to Leicester to help me. I was so grateful for those offers and the support that it got me through an extremely hard period of my life.

We also had a Father’s Day (my first as a single parent) event on the breaking dad network and it made me feel so connected to other dads at Centrica. 

With my experiences I’ve also been able to support other fathers which is what this network is all about. 

The most important thing I’ve learnt as a dad is to share how we both feel and let him see me as an emotional yet resilient person. I want to teach my son that everybody, including men and dads have feelings, and that it is ok to feel sad or happy or anything between. 

Looking Ahead

“Moving into next year our focus is expanding the community, and deepening the relationships we’ve formed within the network. We want to give a greater platform for our dads to share their experiences and gain wisdom from others."

"It’s worth noting, we wouldn’t be in the position we are today without the outstanding support we’ve received from the Working Parents Network, especially Liz Da Cruz and Paula Donnelly. They’ve partnered with us, supported us and invested in us every step of the way and we’re proud to sit as a part of the wider Working Parents Network", said Tom.

“As a group our core statement is that when you’re winning at home, you’re winning at work. So if we can play a small part in fostering that winning relationship at home, then we believe you’ll have everything you need to win at work.”