503 organisations competed for a spot on this year's Stonewall Top 100 LGBT+ employers list (Envato Elements)

Newcastle City Council has been revealed as the UK’s most inclusive place to work in the Stonewall 2020 Top 100 Employers list.

More than 500 organisations vied for a spot on Stonewall’s Top 100, the UK’s leading ranking of LGBT+ inclusivity in employers from public, private and third sectors.

Newcastle City Council has been the highest-ranking local authority for the last three years and is the first local authority to ever reach the pole position since Stonewall started its annual ranking sixteen years ago.

It came fifth in 2019 and was boosted to the top spot after running several LGBT+ events throughout the year, including the ‘7 days of Pride’ campaign in the run up to Newcastle Pride.

The council also marked Bi Visibility Day, International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) and the Trans Day of Remembrance.

Housing association Gentoo Group came in second place, followed by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, which also came third last year.

The list is compiled from submissions to the Workplace Equality Index, a benchmarking tool to assess employers’ actual achievements and progress on LGBT+ equality, both at work and in the wider LGBT+ community. Each organisation must demonstrate expertise in 10 areas of employment policy and practice.

Inclusivity is more important than ever as a new study reveals that a quarter of LGBT+ people around the world are bullied in the workplace. This figure rises to one in three for bisexual women.

Stonewall also gives special recognition to the top trans-inclusive employers who have gone above and beyond to ensure trans staff feel accepted. They include Channel 4, Cardiff University and Victim Support.

The top LGBT-inclusive and trans-inclusive employers are listed below. To see the full results, click here.

Top 10 LGBT-inclusive employers, according to Stonewall.

Newcastle City Council Gentoo Group Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service Pinsent Masons Ministry of Justice GSK Citi National Assembly for Wales Welsh Government Cardiff University

Top trans-inclusive employers, listed alphabetically.

Top trans-inclusive employers:

· Aviva

· Bury Council

· Cardiff University

· Channel 4

· Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

· Citi

· Department for International Trade

· Gentoo Group

· Homes England

· JLL

· Leigh Day

· Newcastle City Council

· Pinsent Masons

· Skills Development Scotland

· The University of Sheffield

· Travers Smith

· University of South Wales Group

· Victim Support

· Welsh Government

· York St John University