The University was placed 11th – a rise of nearly 80 places on its 2011 position – in the 2012 Stonewall Top 100 Employers survey, the highest placed higher education institution on the list.
Individual praise was reserved for the University’s LGB&T staff network, which received ‘star performer status’ for its work supporting and advising lesbian, gay and bisexual staff, and in acting as a forum for consultation between staff and University governance structures.
The University has worked hard to understand, engage with and promote the experiences and needs of its LGB&T staff. Among a range of activities over the past year, it has run a sexual orientation at work questionnaire, worked with local community groups and held events at the Festival of Ideas.
Sigrid Fisher, Head of Equality and Diversity at Cambridge, said the University could be proud of its achievement. “The University considers each and every member of its community to be equally valued and our ranking in the 2012 Stonewall Top 100 Employers reflects our commitment to this.
“We have made sure that different staff perspectives and experiences are known, understood and engaged with. These help us to provide an inclusive environment for work and study so that we may support the University’s mission and achieve excellence in all that we do.”
Dr Nick Bampos, Senior Tutor at Trinity Hall and one of the University’s three equality champions, said: “The ranking shows us that the Univesity is a responsive and inclusive employer that values diversity and looks to provide a supportive and exciting environment in which to work.”
The Stonewall Top 100 Employers list, now in its eighth year, ranks the most gay-friendly employers in Britain and showcases institutions from a broad range of sectors. It is compiled from submissions to the charity’s Equality Workplace Index.
Stonewall Chief Executive Ben Summerskill said: “The index is a powerful tool used by Britain’s 1.7 million gay employees and 150,000 gay university students to decide where to take their talents and skills.”
Other universities that featured in the Top 100 were the University of Salford (21st), Cardiff University (49th), Liverpool John Moores University (56th), the University of the West of England (77th) and University College London (83rd). Ernst &Young was named Employer of the Year.
To view the full list, visit www.stonewall.org.uk
For more information about E&D at Cambridge, log on to http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/hr/equality/
Reproduced courtesy University of Cambridge Office of Communications