Government and city dominate gay-friendly employers
Central government departments and leading city firms have dominated the first list of the most gay-friendly employers in the UK.
The new survey – compiled and released by gay-rights group Stonewall – gives the British Council the accolade of being the most gay-friendly employer in the UK.
Its Corporate Equality Index showcases the UK’s top 100 employers for gay, lesbian and bisexual staff. The employers are ranked according to a variety of criteria, including an effective equal opportunities policy and the visibility of openly gay senior staff.
Of the top 100, 11 are central government departments and 12 are FTSE 100 companies.
Launching the list, Stonewall chief executive Ben Summerskill, said: “Gay staff still face a pink plateau in many British workplaces. For the first time, the Corporate Equality Index will give 1.7 million gay people in the UK workforce the chance to choose a gay-friendly employer.”
He added: “Employers who want either to maximise shareholder value or deliver world-class public services now recognise that the case for addressing these issues in the workplace is overwhelming. The organisations in our 2005 Top 100 have demonstrated a clear commitment to meeting the needs of gay staff and customers. There is excellence in every sector – public, private and voluntary – from which other employers across Britain can learn.
“The Corporate Equality Index demonstrates that many major employers are firmly committed to supporting and developing gay staff. We hope it will serve as a positive agent of change across the whole UK workplace for many years to come.”
Sir David Green, director general of the British Council, said that he was “thrilled” that the organisation came top, adding it: “Recognises the work the British Council has undertaken to promote equality and diversity in our employment practices both in the UK and around the world.”
Minister for Equality at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Jacqui Smith, commented: “I hope to see many more organisations acknowledging that equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people is common sense and good business. Stonewall’s Corporate Equality Index shows the many steps organisations have already taken in creating an equal workplace, as well as highlighting work that still needs to be done.”
The DTI came 27th in the list. This was behind the Department of Constitutional Affairs (sixth), the Department for Education and Skills (seventh), the Department of Transport and the Foreign Office, which came in as joint 14th. Also making an appearance are the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Home Office in joint 35th.
Leading city companies represented include Citigroup and Credit Suisse in joint second, with Goldman Sachs and IBM also making the top ten.
