Knowsley Housing Trust is a top gay-friendly employer

January 18, 2010

 

Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) has been named one of Britain’s most gay-friendly businesses.

KHT was the only North West housing association named in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index. It was the second successive year that KHT made the list.

Bob Taylor, KHT’s chief executive, said: “We are proud of this achievement and it shows our commitment to being a supportive and inclusive employer.

“Last year we said we would aim to achieve even higher and we are delighted to be able to say we have done so. We will continue to provide our employees with a fair and diverse working environment and aim to be placed even higher next year.”

KHT was 97th in Stonewall’s National Top 100 employers list. It was one of only five housing providers to make the top 100 nationally.

Stonewall tracks the impact of workplace culture on gay, lesbian and bisexual employees. It has quickly become a key indicator of positive practice in diversity.

The Index is based on a range of key indicators which this year included the largest ever survey of lesbian and gay employees, with more than 7,000 participants.

Despite an increase in the number of entries for the top 100 and stricter scoring by Stonewall, KHT improved its position from last year scoring a 17.5% improvement.

Ben Summerskill, Stonewall Chief Executive, said: “Competition was fiercer than ever to secure a place on the 2010 Top Employers List. “We received more entries than any previous year from employers who understand and have benefited from Stonewall’s research which found that gay people are far more likely to buy goods or services from companies they know are gay-friendly.

“The Index is a powerful tool used by Britain’s 1.7 million gay employees and 150,000 gay university students to decide where to take their talent and skills.”