University receives Stonewall Silver Award for LGBTQ+ inclusion at work

The University of Huddersfield has received an accolade for its commitment to inclusion of lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people in the workplace.

This year, the University of Huddersfield received a Silver Award from Stonewall, the UK's leading LGBTQ+ charity. For 20 years the charity has been supporting employers to create welcoming workplaces for lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people.

Over 400 employers across the UK took part in the 2021 index, this is the second submission for the University since joining in 2019.  The University has moved up an impressive 184 places, now ranked as 277.

As part of Stonewall’s Bring Yourself To Work campaign, the LGBTQ+ equality charity, has published its Top 100 Employers List, awarded a series of Gold, Silver and Bronze awards to organisations to celebrate their inclusion work. The charity will also be highlighting the importance of inclusion for lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people, and the life-changing impact of being able to bring your whole self to work.

Liz Ward, Director of Programmes at Stonewall said: "We spend so much of our time at work, and our career can be a huge part of how we define ourselves. Every single lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer person should be able to be themself at work. From understanding how HR policies, such as parental leave, will affect them, to being reassured that they can speak openly about their lives and partners at the coffee machine, the impact of inclusive workplaces can be life-changing.

"It’s fantastic that the University of Huddersfield has gained a Silver Award for their efforts and commitment to creating an inclusive work environment, and we look forward to seeing and supporting the rest of their inclusion journey."

Olivia Briddon, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager said: “We are delighted with this result!  This really demonstrates our commitment to creating a truly inclusive and welcoming environment for people to work and study, and I look forward to continued work on this.”

Siobhan Moss, Director of Human Resources said: “I am so proud of this result as it reflects our hard work and commitment to providing an inclusive working environment for our staff.  We value the work and guidance provided by our EDI team in HR and our LGBTQI+ staff network." 

Carson McCombe, LGBTQI+ Staff Network Chair said: “The staff network is pleased to have contributed to the submission to the index and for its work to be recognised. We look forward to building on this success to further increase the visibility and profile of LGBTQ+ staff within the University.”