Four organisations in Northern Ireland have made the Top 100 Employers list, compiled by lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality charity Stonewall. Northern Ireland’s top employer is Pinsent Masons, who were named the UK’s most inclusive employer in 2019 and ranked at number four in this year’s list.
The Top 100 is the UK’s definitive list ranking employers from across public, private and third sectors on how LGBT-inclusive their workplaces are and is intensely competitive.
Paul Gillen, partner at Pinsent Masons Northern Ireland, said: ‘Pinsent Masons is humbled and delighted to have retained our position as Stonewall’s Top Northern Ireland Employer. In only the second year of this award in Northern Ireland, so many organisations have already demonstrated the great strides they have made as part of their dedication to achieving LGBT+ inclusivity.
‘Pinsent Masons has long been committed to promoting progress and championing change, we do not seek inclusivity as a destination but as a continuous journey building on and growing our success. We are so proud to have played an active role in what has been a ground-breaking year for LGBT+ equality in Northern Ireland, and it is an honour to work in collaboration with other businesses on LGBT+ inclusivity, including promoting the case for marriage equality. I look forward to the future working with Stonewall and other businesses as we all continue to share experiences and build on the progress we have made so far.’
The second highest performing organisation in Northern Ireland is Citi, who ranked at number 7.
This year’s Top 100 was the most competitive ever with 503 employers vying for a coveted spot.
Ricki Kettle, who works in Equality and Staff Support Services at the Northern Ireland Civil Service, received this year’s Trans Role Model of the Year Award. Ricki received the accolade for her pivotal work on the LGBT Staff Network’s steering group, ensuring that trans staff have their needs met. Outside the office, Ricki also led the network’s representation at the first Trans Pride in Belfast, and provides help to people going through transition.
Ricki said: ‘I’m proud of playing a visible role in the NICS’ Trans Policy and Transitioning and Work Guide, engaging directly with colleagues who had questions around it. The NICS is one of the largest employers in Northern Ireland and getting to speak about this work to 23,000 colleagues was a landmark in my career.’
Stonewall research shows that one in seven LGBT employees (14 per cent) don’t feel able to be themselves at work and almost one in five LGBT people (18 per cent) have experienced discrimination when applying for jobs because of their identity.
Fergal McFerran, Client Account Manager for Northern Ireland, said: ‘Pinsent Masons and all of the organisations from Northern Ireland who have made this year’s Top 100 Employer’s list are playing a huge role in improving the lives of LGBT people, and should be very proud of their work.
‘We still don’t live in a world where everyone is able to be themselves in the workplace, as we know more than a third of LGBT staff (35 per cent) hide who they are at work. By taking steps to make their workplaces supportive and welcoming of all lesbian, gay, bi and trans people, these organisations are bringing us closer to a world where everyone is accepted without exception.’
