Stonewall names Accenture & EY Star LGBT Performer
Consulting firms Accenture and EY have been named a Star Performer by lesbian, gay and bisexual rights charity Stonewall, recognised for providing equality on the work floor and support for lesbian, gay and bisexual employees. The eight chosen organisations will work together with Stonewall to develop best practice for the future.
Stonewall is a lesbian, gay and bisexual rights charity in the UK founded in 1989 by a group of women and men who had been active in the struggle against Section 28 of the Local Government Act*. To bring together top-performing organisations who have consistently demonstrated exemplary practice to support lesbian, gay and bisexual staff, Stonewall recently launched its 'Star Performers' network.
Star Performers
The eight Start Performers have ‘taken workplace equality to the next level’ and have consistently been ranked as top 10 gay-friendly workplaces in the annual Workplace Equality Index. The organisations chosen will work with Stonewall on pioneering initiatives and will lead the development of best workplace practice in the UK and around the world. The Star Performers will mentor other organisations and help them develop strategies to transform workplace cultures across the country, and by doing so, pave the way for these organisations to follow.
Among the eight organisations, three players from the consulting industry are to be found: management consulting firm Accenture, business advisory EY, and IT giant IBM. The other organisations named are: Barclays, Gentoo, Goldman Sachs, Home Office, and Simmons & Simmons. All organisations have set a number of in-year goals to help drive the agenda forward in their workplaces. An overview of the key goal per Star Performer:
Accenture will work with Stonewall on pioneering research into the impact that staff LGBT network groups can have on driving business and creating value for clients.
Barclays will launch a global campaign to engage straight allies and will hold events and awareness raising activities to increase the visibility of LGBT people around the world.
EY pledges to strengthen its commitment to LGBT equality by increasing the visibility and reach of its LGBT network group to regional offices in the UK and Ireland.
Gentoo, a social business who provide housing in Sunderland, has committed to an ambitious programme to support older LGBT people in their homes as well as to help tackle domestic violence in same-sex relationships.
Goldman Sachs will work with their offices in India to build momentum around their network group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender staff.
Home Office pledges to continue to improve the situation for LGBT asylum seekers by continuing its work with Stonewall and LGBT staff to review how those fleeing persecution are treated.
IBM will increase awareness of LGBT equality in offices around the world through a global mentoring programme.
Simmons & Simmons will, over the next three years, revolutionise how they engage with their suppliers and support them to improve their approach to workplace equality.
LGBT leaders
Recently 12 professionals active in consultancy were named a top 100 LGBT leader by OUTstanding in Business, including four consultants from EY and Accenture.
* Section 28 of the Local Government Act was a legislation designed to prevent the so-called ‘promotion’ of homosexuality in schools.
