Housing providers on top equality list
Four housing providers have made a list of the top 100 of lesbian, gay and bisexual friendly employers.
Gentoo Group, Metropolitan Housing Partnership, Your Homes Newcastle and the Knowsley Housing Trust all appear on the list within the top 70.
Gay rights organisation Stonewall reported attracting record numbers of submissions for its workplace equality index this year, with 378 employers seeking recognition. This was up from 352 in 2010.
More than 9,100 lesbian, gay and bisexual people participated in the staff feedback survey, an increase of almost 3,000 since the staff feedback survey was introduced in 2009.
Gentoo Group went up to 11th in the list from 16th last year. Julie Kelly, assistant chief executive of Gentoo Group, said: ‘To have maintained a top 20 ranking for the last four years is a real achievement, and to move up five places since last year is even better.
‘The result demonstrates what can be achieved when equality and diversity teams and lesbian, gay and bisexual employees work together - with support from the very top levels of an organisation. Its not just about equality, it’s about respecting and valuing individuals.’
Ms Kelly hoped Gentoo’s result would encourage others to pursue gay-friendly agendas.
In total, 41 housing employers submitted entries to the 2011 index. The Home Office came top of the list. Stonewall said it ‘understands the importance of truly embedding equality and diversity into everything it does’.
Metrolpolitan was was 21st on the list, Your Homes Newcastle was 50th and Knowsley Housing Trust was 68th.
