Top 10 University for LGBT+ Inclusion
The University of Plymouth achieves a Gold Award for LGBT+ inclusion in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index 2023
- ? Top 100 LGBT+ Employer for 2023
- @ Top 10 in Education Sector
- [ Gold Employer Award
Gold Award for LGBT+ Inclusion
The University of Plymouth is delighted to have placed 45th in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index 2023, recognising our commitment to LGBT+ inclusion. The University of Plymouth's sector-leading work on LGBT+ inclusion has also been recognised with a prestigious Gold Employer Award.
As a proud Civic University, we are committed to ensuring our campus is welcoming to everyone who can benefit from a University of Plymouth education and we look forward to building on these results to further strengthen this commitment for all staff, students and visitors regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
“This is a fantastic testament to the wonderful work that staff and students have done across all the Faculties and Directorates of the university to enable us to build a culture that is truly inclusive. The University of Plymouth has a fundamental commitment to real and meaningful inclusivity, and we know that our diversity is our strength. We also know that we have much more to do to, but these results are really encouraging evidence that the actions that we are all taking are making a true positive difference.”
Professor Sube Banerjee, Executive Dean – Faculty of Health
Chair of University Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Chair of University Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee
What is the Stonewall WEI?
The Stonewall Workplace Equality Index (WEI) is the definitive benchmarking tool for UK employers to measure our progress on lesbian, gay, bi and trans inclusion in the workplace as well as measuring how inclusive our services are for students and rewarding good practice within the local community. It also includes an anonymous survey for all staff to complete about their experiences of diversity and inclusion at work. The University's submission was led by the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team with input from staff and students across the University including our LGBT+ Staff Forum and University Women's Network .
What does the score mean?
Hundreds of organisations take part in the WEI from a range of sectors including education, law, local government, banking and retail. The University of Plymouth was scored in eight different areas from employee policy and community engagement through to student experience and we ranked 45th overall. Within the education sector, the University of Plymouth ranked as one of the Top Ten Universities for LGBT+ inclusion. In fact, the University's work was so outstanding that we were also awarded a Gold Employer Award for demonstrating some of the best practice in the UK for LGBT+ inclusion.
Why does this matter?
According to research by Stonewall, 35% of LGBT+ people in the UK hide who they are at work and 18% have been the victims of homophobic and transphobic comments at work. In Universities across the UK, more than 42% of LGBT+ students hide their identity at University and 22% of Trans students have been assaulted because they are trans. This is unacceptable and must stop.
We are incredibly proud to be a Top Ten University for LGBT+ Inclusion, particularly as this achievement in supporting LGBT+ staff and students has only been possible thanks to the hard work of staff in all departments across the University from Procurement and HR to Student Services and Student Wellbeing.
We also worked closely with all of our staff networks as well as Plymouth's incredible community groups such as Pride in Plymouth and Not Alone Plymouth. LGBT+ inclusion is the responsibility of everyone within our University community and we want our LGBT+ staff and students to know that we support and celebrate them every day of the year.
Our award-winning work:
- Pride in Faith brought together LGBT+ faith leaders from across the UK in a unique online seminar.
- Our
Trans Policy supports trans and non-binary staff and students in bringing their whole selves to campus. - We launched an LGBT+ Inclusion Taskforce to review over 200 staff and student policies.
- In 2021 we became a
long-term sponsor of Not Alone Plymouth to support our local Trans community. - We are proud sponsors of Pride in Plymouth and their work in supporting LGBT+ asylum seekers.
- The University has a
zero-tolerance approach to homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. - All new University buildings must include gender-neutral toilets, and we list them in our online map.
- We offer
LGBT+ Allyship and Trans Awareness Training to all of our staff.
