County council 64th in list of top 100 Stonewall employers

West Sussex County Council has been ranked 64th in Stonewall’s annual top 100 employers list which showcases Britain’s best employers for lesbian, gay and bisexual staff.
County Hall, ChichesterCounty Hall, Chichester
County Hall, Chichester

The local authority achieved its highest ever score of 159, up from 144 last year.

Set up in 1989, Stonewall has put the case for equality on the mainstream political agenda as its Workplace Equality Index allows employers to measure their efforts to tackle discrimination and create inclusive workplaces for lesbian, gay and bisexual employees.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Since 2005 more than 750 employers have taken part in the index, using Stonewall’s criteria as a model for good practice.

Louise Goldsmith (Con, Chichester West), leader of WSCC, said: “This is very good news for the county council – having risen from 78th in last year’s rankings to 64 this year.

“The county council is committed to equalities, and we recognise that a diverse workforce in turn can help to improve the services we provide by offering differing skills, experiences, backgrounds and cultures.”

The index is based on a range of key indicators which include a confidential survey of lesbian, gay and bisexual employees, with nearly 9,000 participants across a range of public and private sector organisations.

The full 2014 Workplace Equality Index is available from the Stonewall website.

South East Coast Ambulance Service ranked joint 61st, while Sussex Police was joint 91st.