WELSH EMPLOYERS CONTINUE TO LEAD ON LGBT INCLUSION

• 12 of the top 100 LGBT-inclusive employers are Welsh
• Leading Welsh employers include the National Assembly for Wales, Welsh Government, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and Victim Support
• Universities in Wales have a strong year with five placed in the top 100
• Five of the 14 Top Trans-inclusive Employers are from Wales

Welsh workplaces are again well represented on Stonewall’s latest list of the UK’s Top 100 LGBT inclusive employers. The Top 100 is the UK’s leading list ranking employers from across public, private and third sectors on how inclusive their workplaces are and is intensely competitive – with this year seeing more entrants than ever.

A new trend in this year’s Top 100 sees a significant rise in Universities named as inclusive employers, with five organisations working in the higher education sector in Wales making the list.

Leading the way in Wales again this year is the National Assembly for Wales at position five. The organisation continues to implement a range of inclusive policies and practices for lesbian, gay and bi staff, and has introduced specific trans-inclusive policies, training and facilities to create a welcoming environment for trans colleagues and visitors.

Llywydd, Elin Jones AM, said:

“The National Assembly for Wales is proud to maintain a top five place in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index – for the fifth year running.

“It shows that we have developed and sustained an inclusive culture demonstrating the Senedd’s commitment to represent all of Wales’s diverse communities.  

“Promoting LGBT equality is an important part of who we are and is exemplified throughout the organisation – from our vibrant LGBT staff network, the training, resources and policies we have in place and the celebration of equality which is actively led by senior management. 

 “We also value sharing best practice across a wide range of other organisations, in both the public and private sectors, and will continue to encourage and be inspired by the efforts of others. 

“We are determined to continue to make the National Assembly an enjoyable and rewarding place to work for all people as we believe the organisation achieves more with a diverse and inclusive workforce.”

Higher education is the best performing sector

As higher education organisations dominated this year’s Top 100, Cardiff University came top of the class at number 11. The sector’s strong performance was buoyed by seven new entries to the Top 100, including six universities, one of whom from Wales; University of South Wales (43).

Higher education’s strong commitment to LGBT inclusion is a powerful positive symbol of the progress being made towards equality. Stonewall’s 2018 University Report shows why this work is needed, with two in five LGBT students (42 per cent) saying they’ve hidden their identity at university for fear of discrimination.

2019’s Top trans-inclusive employers

Stonewall gave special commendation to fourteen organisations as the UK’s top-trans inclusive employers, this commendation includes five organisations from Wales; National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff University, Swansea University, Victim Support and Welsh Government. These are employers who have gone above and beyond to ensure trans staff feel accepted.

This comes as trans people continue to face worrying levels of abuse in both their private lives and in the public sphere. Shockingly, three in ten trans employees (30 per cent) have been subjected to negative comments or conduct from work colleagues in the last year based on their gender identity.

Most competitive Top 100 ever

This year’s Top 100 was the largest ever with 445 employers from across different sectors vying for a coveted spot in the list. The full list is in the notes to editors.

Each year, Stonewall also names individuals and groups who have made an outstanding contribution to LGBT inclusion in their workplace. Amongst this years award winners is Ray Vincent, Associate Chaplain at the University of South Wales. Ray has been awarded as the Gay Role Model of the Year for his work on championing LGBT equality within the workplace.

Commenting on his award win, Ray said:

‘Being a role model doesn’t necessarily mean being a specially virtuous or courageous person! I think its chief function in the multi-cultural environment of a university is to reassure anyone with doubts that it’s OK to be gay. At the same time, I feel challenged to be more visible and to work harder to encourage and help people to be who they are. 

‘As a Christian minister, I am very much aware of the pain caused to LGBT people by the attitude of many people in the churches – I have felt it keenly myself, and I deeply regret that this is still the experience of many today. But the Christian community is very diverse, and I am thankful for all those Christians who have supported me and who go on loving me just as I am.’ 

Last year, Stonewall Cymru released research that showed a third of LGBT staff (34 per cent) have hidden they are LGBT at work and almost one in six LGBT employees (16 per cent) have been the target of negative comments from colleagues because of their identity.

Andrew White, Stonewall Cymru’s Director, said:

‘Stonewall was set up 30 years ago to fight against Section 28 – a vicious law that aimed to ban the ‘promotion of homosexuality’ in educational settings. To now see higher education institutions dominating the Top 100 including five from Wales for the first time shows not just how far we’ve come, but gives a real positive message for the future.

‘Equality is not just the right thing to do – it makes real business sense and results in a happier healthier and more productive workforce.  Congratulations to all who made it in to the Top 100, particularly to Cardiff University who came top of the class in their sector, as did the National Assembly for Wales and Lloyds Banking Group.

‘I am delighted to see 12 Welsh employers in the Top 100 and five out of the 14 Top trans-inclusive Employers. Our Index gets more competitive and more difficult every year.  If that sounds daunting, then it should!  Those who have placed in the Top 100 are up for that challenge.

Full results of the Top 100 Employers list can be found online at: www.stonewall.org.uk