In its latest round of firefighter recruitment, more than 12% of applicants identified as LGBT+; more than double the number five years ago. Zoe Garland Assoc CIPD, HR Business Partner at Cheshire Constabulary and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said: By actively promoting LGBT+ inclusion, our recruitment catchment is vastly broadened as we strive to inspire people from all backgrounds to consider Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service as an employer of choice.
Pride in the North: Inspiring LGBT+ employers
While workplace inclusivity is fundamental to good, fair work and positive employee outcomes, many organisations have been slow to make headway in this area. Here, we take a look at some of the north’s leading organisations at the forefront of delivering inspiring initiatives and HR policies to improve LGBT+ working lives. Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service The emergency service has an LGBT+ network known as FirePride, as well as various other staff networks which primarily focus on gender equality, neurodiversity, race and cultural heritage. Like Firepride, these networks create opportunities
University of Manchester The University of Manchester has a number of staff network groups coordinated by its Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Team. One of these is known as the ALLOUT group which organises awareness-raising events and runs a successful Allies programme that provides training to staff who do not identify as LGBT+ but wish to support their colleagues. The University also uses benchmarking tools as part of its inclusion performance metrics and has clear guidance and polices in place to support staff who identify as LGBT+. Adèle MacKinlay FCIPD, Director of People and Organisational Development said: It is fundamental to our culture and our success that all people at the University - irrespective of gender assignment, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic as well as gender identity - feel included, engaged, and have equity of opportunity to thrive and develop.
Jacobs, Doncaster, Harrogate & Leeds Jacobs is on a journey to
becoming an employer of choice for LGBT+ people in the construction, engineering and property sector. The organisation has established a successful global employee network for LGBT+ employees and their allies, known as Prism. The business has also collaborated with industry partners to raise the bar for LGBT+ inclusion and equality, and organised a global 24-hour Digital Pride Celebration. Ensuring all Jacobs family policies (maternity, paternity, shared parental leave, adoption leave, bereavement leave) are inclusive of all families, regardless of gender or gender identity has also been well received by employees. Jill Fernie, Assoc CIPD, HR Consultant at Jacobs said: Inclusivity and diversity are a top priority for us. Prism and our BeyondTogether team have been key to developing a truly inclusive working environment and embedding this in our culture.
for staff to access support and personal development, and offer suggestions to help shape and improve inclusion in the workplace. Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service also host an annual ‘Proud to Provide’ conference in
which high profile guest speakers explore ways to work towards public services that are truly LGBT+ inclusive.
Access CIPD’s inclusion and diversity resources here .
REGIONAL INSIGHTS
Summer 2022
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