Stonewall Diversity Champions

‘Diversity Champions’ was launched by Stonewall in 2001.  It is a forum in which employers can work with Stonewall, the leading national lesbian, gay and bisexual organisation, to promote diversity in the workplace. Sheffield City Council is a member of the scheme.

 

A detailed information pack explaining Stonewall Diversity Champions can be found at the bottom of this page.

 

In all areas of public life new standards of behaviour are evolving.  Employers who fail to respond to new ethical standards risk loss of reputation as well as costly legal litigation. Diversity Champions brings together employers who are at the cutting edge of delivering diversity in business and public service and focuses on the new challenges and opportunities for employers addressing issues of diversity in the workplace.

 

The scheme has already attracted many local authorities and names such as Sainsbury’s, the Cabinet office and IBM to its membership.  The scheme does not believe in reinventing the wheel but working together.

 

 

Stonewall – through the scheme are able to provide speakers for specific events, such as talks to boards of directors or to Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender (LGBT) staff forums, and can also provide more in depth help on a consultancy basis, either provided directly by Stonewall or through consultants that Stonewall are able to recommend.  Membership of the scheme ensures that organisations have a useful contact at the other end of the phone who can be contacted about a whole range of LGBT diversity issues and can give advice, referrals or links with other best practice organisations from the public, private and voluntary sectors.

 

In January 2008 it was announced by Stonewall that Sheffield Council is amongst the top 20 highest scorers of employers in Stonewall's annual Workplace Equality Index. Our score this year is 86%. Stonewall published its annual Workplace Equality Index in response to a recent Stonewall 'Diversity Champions' questionnaire sent to employers throughout the country. The Council joined the Stonewall Diversity Champions programme in June 2004. Council Leader Jan Wilson said "This is a great result again for Sheffield. We are proud to be a positive employer for lesbian, gay and bisexual people and hope to continue to deliver better quality services. This result highlights our ongoing commitment to promote equality and diversity."