Lloyds tops Stonewall's inclusive employers list
Lloyds banking group is the UK’s most inclusive employer, according to LGBT campaign group Stonewall. The accolade was awarded due to Lloyds launch of a volunteering programme in connection with LGBT charities as well as the company’s support of awareness days and social media campaigns. In second place was law firm Pinsent Masons, followed by JP Morgan. Intelligence agency MI5, which was placed top last year, tied in fifth place with the Welsh Assembly. Half of the top 10 was comprised of legal firms. Other sectors that scored strongly were education and government. No media companies were featured.

Banking group Lloyds has been named the most inclusive employer in Britain by Stonewall.

The firm won the accolade after launching a new volunteering programme, forming official partnerships with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender charities.

Lloyds also supported awareness days and social media campaigns as well as flying bisexual and transgender flags at 35 sites.

Law firm Pinsent Masons came second, followed by US banker JP Morgan, while intelligence agency MI5, which was top last year, was joint-fifth with the Welsh Assembly.

Stonewall, the leading LGBT rights charity, said its workplace equality index attracted a record 439 submissions, with 92,000 people taking part in a survey about workplace culture.

Antonio Horta Osorio, group chief executive of Lloyds, said: “Lloyds Banking Group is committed to supporting diversity in its workforce so that we can harness all of the qualities and talents of our colleagues to achieve our aim of helping Britain prosper.”

Ruth Hunt, chief executive of Stonewall, said: “Lloyds Banking Group is a trailblazer for lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality, and an example of a business that consistently ensures that all staff feel empowered and supported, no matter who they are.

“We’ve learned over the last year that nothing is certain – and this extends to human rights. Corporate organisations have the power to influence this and protect LGBT people, and so it is reassuring to see so many private firms represented in our top 10 and top 100.”

Legal firms made up half of the top 10 and featured widely in the top 100 along with those in education, banking and finance and the government, but there were no media companies.

Others named include several police forces, universities, the National Crime Agency and the army.

The House of Commons was placed 28th. Speaker John Bercow said: “It shows our commitment to providing a workplace where all our staff feel valued and supported.

“Receiving a coveted place in the Stonewall top 100 sends a strong message about who we are as an organisation.”