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North East companies in top 100 for inclusion

Organisations in the North East have been praised for their inclusion policies with the release of the Stonewall 2010 Workplace Equality Index.

Two North East housing companies, a council and the North East Ambulance Service have been ranked in the top 100 employers for lesbian, gay and bisexual staff.

Stonewall’s WEI is a national benchmarking exercise which showcases Britain’s top employers for LGB staff. It tracks the effect of workplace culture on LGB employees and aims to act as a barometer of diversity practices.

People and property business Gentoo came 16th, making it the highest ranked employer in both the region and the housing sector.

Julie Kelly, assistant chief executive of Gentoo Group, said: “This is not just about equality, it’s about respecting and valuing individuals, and it makes good business sense.

“Our result sends a clear message to our staff and customers. We’re proud to be leading the way and our success demonstrates our active support for Sunderland’s commitment to being a cohesive and inclusive city. I hope our result may encourage others to engage with this agenda.”

Also in the housing sector, Your Homes Newcastle (YHN) ranked 90th, climbing 87 places from its position in the 2009 index.

John Leeof YHN, said: “Even in 2010, LGB staff can face issues and behaviours that other staff will not face and we are committed to working to eradicate these and make YHN a workplace where people can be themselves and therefore maximise their potential.

“The feedback we receive from Stonewall will give us something to build on over the coming year in terms of improvement and development.”

Newcastle City Council appeared in the list at number 30, the sixth highest placed local authority in the index. Another North East public sector body, the North East Ambulance Service, was ranked 70th. Other companies with North East offices also appeared in the list, including Proctor and Gamble, Deloitte, and Eversheds.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .