The University has maintained its Top 20 position for the second year in the latest Stonewall Workplace Equality Index – an annual audit of workplace culture for lesbian, gay, bi and trans staff. It is also the highest placed HEI in England and this is the 5^th year that the University has featured in the Top 100 – demonstrating commitment to our LGBT inclusion for our staff and students.

Run by Stonewall, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights charity, the Workplace Equality Index is free to enter for any employer, with 445 employers submitted entries to the 2019 Index, across the public, private and third sectors.

As part of the Index there is a staff feedback questionnaire that participating employers can ask their staff to complete. This year Stonewall received over 92,000 responses to the staff survey making it one of the largest national employment surveys in Britain. The Univeristy contributed 363 responses providing vital information to Stonewall on the experience of all staff, not only those who identify as LGBT.

This year the group has been especially selected by Stonewall for a Highly Commended Network Group Award. This is in recognition of the many activities run by the ALLOUT staff network during 2018. These have included a number of activities celebrating different intersectionalities as well as marking days such as The International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) in May; Bi Visibility Day in September and Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) in November. The group also leads the University entry for Manchester Pride and will continue to do so for 2019. You can find out more, and even take part by visiting: www.pride.manchester.ac.uk

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Partner at the University, Paul Marks-Jones is responsible for compiling the University’s entry and working with the staff network. He said: “The Stonewall project team is delighted that we have maintained our Top 20 position in what is becoming an increasingly competitive index. It is a testament to the guidance, polices and support the University provides, as well as the efforts of the many staff who, through our networks and events, contribute constant feedback, support and awareness-raising activities. All of this ensures the University is a place where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are an important and valued part of the workforce.”

Director of Human Resources Karen Heaton, said: “This is another year’s positive result for the University reflecting our continued commitment to providing an inclusive working environment for our staff. We value the hard work and guidance provided by our LGBT staff network group.”

The University will be running a range of events and activities to celebrate LGBT history month in February.

The full Workplace Equality Index 2019 is available on the Stonewall website.