Top 10 inclusive employer

Cardiff University is one of the top ten most inclusive employers in Britain, according to Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ charity, Stonewall.

In its 2022 Workplace Equality Index, the University ranked 7th overall, also achieving a Gold Award which recognises the standard of its work in this area.

It is the highest placed UK university in the Index and rises from 10th in the 2020 results. The University’s staff LGBT+ network, Enfys, was also Highly Commended by the Index.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Damian Walford Davies, said: “We are proud of our commitment to being an LGBTQ+ inclusive employer. Our ranking this year reflects over a decade of work to make our workplace more inclusive – work that has continued amidst the huge changes the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to our working lives. It is testament to the efforts of our staff as we create a workplace that is welcoming for all."

Some of the steps the University has taken to create an inclusive workplace for lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people include promoting LGBTQ+ role models, supporting leadership to understand the issues that affect LGBTQ+ people, engaging with LGBTQ+ community groups and looking at how we best support our LGBTQ+ student community.

Karen Harvey-Cooke, chair of Enfys said: “The past two years has been a challenging time for the LGBTQ+ community, with an increase in hate crime and the long-lasting impacts of the pandemic to give just a couple of examples. It’s vital that employers work hard to create a supportive and inclusive working environment so everyone can thrive.”