Lloyds named most inclusive employer

Lloyds Banking Group has been named the most inclusive employer by LGBT charity Stonewall.

In 2016 Lloyds formed official partnerships with LGBT charities and introduced a volunteering programme.

It also supported Bi Visibility Day and Transgender Day of Visibility with training tools, social media campaigns and by flying bisexual and transgender flags at 35 sites.

The banking group was top out of 439 organisations that entered. Law firm Pinsent Masons came second, followed by US banker JP Morgan.

Ruth Hunt, chief executive of Stonewall, said: “Lloyds Banking Group is a trailblazer for lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality, and an example of a business that consistently ensures that all staff feel empowered and supported, no matter who they are.

“We’ve learned over the last year that nothing is certain – and this extends to human rights. Corporate organisations have the power to influence this and protect LGBT people, and so it is reassuring to see so many private firms represented in our top 10 and top 100.”

In terms of the number of firms in the top 100 the best performing industry was law, followed by education and banking.

Five employers on the list were in defence and security while eight were in government, including MI5 (5) and the House of Commons (28).

Antonio Horta Osorio, group chief executive of Lloyds, said: “Lloyds Banking Group is committed to supporting diversity in its workforce so that we can harness all of the qualities and talents of our colleagues to achieve our aim of helping Britain prosper.”