Shropshire County Council in list of top employers

For the second year running, Shropshire County Council has joined some of Britain’s top employers such as IBM, Lloyds TSB and Time Warner in a list of the top 100 gay-friendly employers.

The 2008 Workplace Equality Index - organised by the gay rights charity, Stonewall - lists the top 100 employers in Britain for lesbian and gay people based on a survey covering how well employers put their equality policies into practice.

The council scored 81 per cent in the index, which puts them in 38th place overall - and is a big rise from last year’s position of 80th.

Mike Owen, Shropshire County Council’s Cabinet member for community well-being, said: “We are delighted to once again feature in the top 100 and especially proud to have made such an improvement on last year’s performance.

“The council is committed to providing a working environment which allows all of our employees to perform to the highest possible standard, thus delivering and improving the excellent services we provide.”

Peter Roscoe, Secretary of Shropshire County Council’s group for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) staff, said: “This is excellent news - the County Council has recognised that lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people are everywhere and that they are welcome as employees and service users.”

10 January 2008