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https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2016/01/19/top-results-for-royal-navy-and-army-in-stonewall-top-100-employers-list/

Top results for Royal Navy and Army in Stonewall employers list

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The Royal Navy has been named in the UK’s top 10 gay-friendly employers by Stonewall, just 16 years after LGB personnel were allowed to serve openly in the military.

The Royal Navy moved to tenth place, up from 56th in 2015, which is highest ranking ever awarded to defence. The British Army has also been recognised for the third year, retaining its place in the top 50 employers, moving up 14 positions to 32nd place on the list.

Penny Mordaunt, Minister for the Armed Forces, said:

I am extremely proud of how far we have come in terms of supporting our LGBT personnel. The rankings achieved by the Army and Navy are a testament to the hard work of all those in our Armed Forces who strive on a daily basis to make defence a place where everyone can be themselves. I was delighted to become a Stonewall ally last year after taking part in the 'No Bystanders' anti-bullying campaign.

The Royal Navy – which includes the Royal Marines – has lept up the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index for 2016 and is now regarded as a Top 10 employer. Sixteen years after the ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel openly serving in the Armed Forces was lifted, the Royal Navy is clearly demonstrating its commitment to diversity and inclusion across the organisation. The Stonewall Workplace Index is a powerful benchmarking tool used by employers to create inclusive workplaces and this year attracted the highest number of entries since the Index launched in 2005. The Royal Navy has previously been placed at 67th and last year rose to 56th but this year the Senior Service has rocketed to 10th place.
The Royal Navy – which includes the Royal Marines – has lept up the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index for 2016 and is now regarded as a top 10 employer.

Admiral Sir George Zambellas, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, said:

I’m so proud that the Royal Navy has been ranked in the top ten of Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index. It’s a ringing endorsement of our efforts, led by our diversity champions, to ensure we remain one of the most attractive employers in the UK. It also just goes to show that if you’re good enough, it doesn’t matter who you are: anyone can succeed in the Royal Navy.

 

Diversity is also about being the best Navy in the world. The Royal Navy’s strength rests on our men and women, in all their glorious diversity. Their skill, their determination, their ability to think and fight, determines our success.

The achievement for the services reflects the work undertaken across defence in recent years to improve diversity and inclusion. 

The British Army has once again proved its commitment to creating an inclusive workplace with its 32nd placing in the 2016 Stonewall Top 100 Employers workplace equality index, a climb of 14 places from last year. Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers, now in its twelfth year, is the definitive list of the best employers for lesbian, gay and bisexual staff. And now, for the first time trans-inclusive questions have allowed Stonewall to gather information about what employers are doing to further gender equality in the workplace. Commander Field Army Lieutenant General Sir James Everard said: “I am delighted that the Army has once more demonstrated the progress it has made as an inclusive employer by achieving its highest-ever ranking within the Stonewall Top 100 Employers. “I know that much of the credit for this must go to our LGBT Network who works tirelessly to represent the Army’s LGBT community and constantly challenge the policy makers and chain of command to do better.” The survey asks questions covering key indicators of workplace culture, whilst the index’s criterion explores ten areas of employment policy and practice. To supplement evidence submitted by employers, Stonewall also seeks feedback directly from the entrant’s staff. The feedback is sent directly to Stonewall and is anonymous. Warrant Officer Karen Styles, Army LGBT Forum Chair, said: “As the Chair of the Army LGBT Forum I am extremely pleased with placing as a Stonewall Top 100 Employer for the 3rd consecutive year. This has shown that through the dedication of the whole forum team we have continued to educate and mentor formations and individuals within the Chain of Command on the importance of having a truly diverse workplace”. Soldiers wait to step off on parade during the 2014 London Pride event.
The British Army has once again proved its commitment to creating an inclusive workplace with its 32nd placing in the 2016 Stonewall top 100 employers workplace equality index, a climb of 14 places from last year.

Commander Field Army, Lieutenant General Sir James Everard, said:

I am delighted that the Army has once more demonstrated the progress it has made as an inclusive employer by achieving its highest-ever ranking within the Stonewall Top 100 Employers.

 

I know that much of the credit for this must go to our LGBT Network who work tirelessly to represent the Army’s LGBT community and constantly challenge the policy makers and chain of command to do better.

The RAF was outside the top 100 in 2016, however significant progress has been achieved in the last 12 months to develop personnel policy to better reflect the needs of LGBT personnel. The RAF LGBT Freedom Network continued to actively promote the sense of community amongst RAF LGBT personnel. A comprehensive guide on transgender personnel was produced which provides clear and easily understood guidance for all personnel on what it means to be transgender and how they can become better allies to their transgender colleagues. The RAF is proud of its excellent work with Stonewall since 2007 and remains fully committed to being an inclusive employer of choice. 

Lt General Andrew Gregory, Chief of Defence People, said:

I am thrilled to see the Royal Navy in the top 10 of employers and the Army ranking even higher than their impressive positioning last year.  We are obviously disappointed that the Royal Air Force haven’t made the top 100 this year in what was clearly a very competitive field. This does not reflect any lessening of our desire to make the whole of defence – the Armed Forces and the civil service - a career of choice for all individuals where they can be valued for who they are and the skills they offer, in the process realising their own potential.

Royal Air Force personnel on parade during the 2014 London Pride event. London Pride is the annual LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Pride March through London, starting at Baker Street and ending at Whitehall Place. Military personnel from all three Services have been granted permission to march in uniform during the event demonstrating the MOD's commitment to equality and diversity. The Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force Pesonnel divert out of the main parade and pass the Cenotaph in Whitehall, where a salute is given.
Royal Air Force personnel on parade during the 2014 London Pride event.

The Stonewall Workplace Index is a benchmarking tool used by employers to create inclusive workplaces. The index is determined by areas such as employee policy, training, career development, monitoring and community engagement, as well as feedback directly from staff.  This year attracted the highest number of entries since the Index launched in 2005.

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