Our University ranked 47th in Stonewall’s 2020 Top 100 Employers List
30 Jan 2020
This year’s Top 100 was the largest ever with 503 employers entering, demonstrating their commitment to LGBT workplace inclusion
As part of the Top 100, Stonewall collects more than 109,000 anonymous responses from employees on their experience of Britain’s workplace culture and diversity. This year, 81 per cent of LGBT employees who responded to the survey said they feel able to be themselves in the workplace.
Stonewall’s Top 100 is compiled from submissions to the Workplace Equality Index, a powerful benchmarking tool used by employers to assess their achievements and progress on LGBT equality in the workplace, as well as their wider work in the community and on service provision.
The University’s ranking, slightly down from 2019, reflects the increase in submissions and the nationwide momentum to make workplaces fully LGBT inclusive – this year an additional 58 employers submitted entries.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Partner Paul Marks-Jones, who is responsible for compiling the University’s entry and working with our LGBT Staff Network, said: “We are pleased to maintain our inclusion in the Stonewall 2020 Top 100 Employers List for the sixth consecutive year.
“It is a testament to the guidance, polices and support our 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. Whilst we have dropped a few places this will only spur the university on to see how we can improve even further, learning from other organisations ensuring we continue to do our very best for LGBT+ inclusivity.
“All of this ensures our University is a place where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are an important and valued part of the workforce.”
Sanjay Sood-Smith, Stonewall’s Executive Director of Workplace & Community Programmes, said: “We are delighted to name The University of Manchester as one of our Top 100 Employers this year. All the organisations in this year's Top 100 Employer's list are playing a huge role in improving the lives of LGBT people, and should be very proud of their work.
“We still don't live in a world where everyone is able to be themselves in the workplace, as we know more than a third of LGBT staff (35 per cent) hide who they are at work. By taking steps to make their workplaces supportive and welcoming of all lesbian, gay, bi and trans people, businesses like The University of Manchester are bringing us closer to a world where everyone is accepted without exception.”