The University of Sheffield is now one of Britain’s top 25 LGBT+ employers

It has risen by 64 places

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Leading LGBT+ charity Stonewall has named The University of Sheffield as one of the top employers for workplace equality for the fifth year in a row.

The University has moved up 64 places to achieve its highest ever ranking in the Stonewall Top 100 Employers list, making it the 24th top employer in the country for lesbian, gay, bi, and trans+ staff.

The list, which has been going since 2005 and becomes more competitive every year, is an annual appraisal of employers up and down the country, and the workplace culture that exists with regards to LGBT+ staff.

The charity received 92,000 responses for the survey, and the University have said that they will use its results to help continue to focus on LGBT+ equality.

The University has restated its aim to "support people – regardless of their sexual orientation or any other equality characteristic – to work together to create and be part of an all-encompassing community."

The University of Sheffield’s Senior Diversity Champion, Provost and Deputy Vice Chancellor Gill Valentine, said: “At the University of Sheffield we actively champion equality, diversity and inclusion, which has helped us to create an open, inclusive environment for everyone, including LGBT+ staff and students.

“To have risen up the rankings this year is extremely pleasing and is testament to the people who work at the University making it such a remarkable place to work, so I’m delighted to be part of an institution with such a diverse and inclusive community.

“Equality is a hugely important issue for me personally. I believe people should be accepted for whoever they are and they should be able to bring their whole selves to work in a warm and welcoming environment.”

More than 1,600 members of staff have become proactive supporters of the Open@TUoS network, which is a network of LGBT+ allies working to progress community inclusion at the University.

This is done through sharing information, encouraging people to actively become involved in LGBT+ activities and asking staff to visibly support LGBT+ inclusion by wearing rainbow lanyards.

Darren Towers, Executive Director at Stonewall said: “The University of Sheffield and all those who have made this year’s Top 100 Employers list have done a fantastic job. Taking part in our Index shows real commitment to understanding and advancing LGBT equality.

“This year, for the first time, the Index looked at what employers were doing for trans equality in the workplace. Half of trans people have hidden their identity at work for fear of discrimination.

“This must change and it’s encouraging to see so many organisations make a commitment to trans equality. With their support and hard work we can create a world where all lesbian, gay, bi and trans employees are welcomed and accepted without exception.”