Local authorities named most gay-friendly employers

Fri 11 Jan 2008

Public sector employers and police forces are the best organisations at ensuring workplace equality for gay employees, according to the charity Stonewall.

Topping a poll of 100 employers was crime-reduction charity Nacro, the Greater London Authority came second and Hampshire and Staffordshire police were third.

Paul Cavadino, Nacro chief executive, said: "This shows that with commitment and determination a charity with few spare financial resources can provide a quality of support for gay staff which equals that of some of the biggest employers in the country."

Stonewall chief executive Ben Summerskill said the charity was awarded first place because of the "determined way in which Nacro has sought to appeal to as wide a range of potential staff as possible".

Law firm, Pinsent Masons were named Most Improved Employer and HM Prison Service won an award for Employee Network Group of the Year.

Stonewall estimates there are 1.7 million lesbian and gay people in the UK workforce.