​Bury Council recognised as a top ‘equal’ employer

Bury Council has again been named one of Britain’s top ‘equal’ employers by professional lobbying group Stonewall.

The council is now listed at number 51 in Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers list, which showcases the best employers for lesbian, gay, bi and trans staff.

The list is compiled from submissions to the Workplace Equality Index, a tool used by employers to create inclusive workplaces.

The annual audit, now in its 13^th year, is free to any employer to enter and this year 439 employers took part. To supplement evidence submitted by employers, Stonewall also sought feedback directly from staff, and received more than 90,000 responses.

Councillor Jane Lewis, Bury’s cabinet member for finance and human resources, said: “We’ve been in Stonewall’s list since 2009 and are delighted to be included once more, with our placing going up from 60 last year to 51 this year and being the fourth best council in the country. We are committed to eradicating discrimination in all areas, and we are glad to see that our efforts are being recognised nationally.”

Duncan Bradshaw, director of membership programmes at Stonewall, said: “Bury Council and all those who have made this year’s Top 100 Employers list have done a fantastic job, and really do put equality and inclusion at the forefront of their work. We were thrilled to have 439 submissions for this year’s Index, one of the most competitive yet, and I would like to thank each and every organisation that took part. With your continued efforts and hard work, we will continue to work toward a world where all lesbian, gay, bi and trans staff are welcomed and accepted without exception in their workplaces.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 23 January 2017.