Leading lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender charity, Stonewall, has launched its annual Top 100 Employers index, rating Nottinghamshire County Council as the most inclusive County Council in the country and best workplace in the east midlands.

Overall, Nottinghamshire County Council was ranked 30th best employer in the whole country – the fifth successive year that it has been named in the prestigious top 100.

Marje Toward, chair of the council’s Corporate Equality Group, said: “This is great news and reflects the range of innovative, supportive and inclusive work taking place across the Council.

“It sends a powerful message to all our employees and potential future employees and the people we serve, that Nottinghamshire County Council is a welcoming, inclusive place to work for everyone. It also provides assurance to everyone living in Nottinghamshire that, through our policies and services, we are committed to fairness and respect for all.”

The ranking is recognition of the work of the council’s LGBT Staff Network, which supports LGBT staff, challenges discrimination in the workplace, promotes awareness of LGBT issues and provides advice on making Council services more LGBT-inclusive.

Mike Severnsmith, vice-chair of the Nottinghamshire County Council LGBT Staff Network, said: “I’m really pleased that, for the fifth successive year, we have been ranked in the top 100 LGBT employers in the country. It is in recognition of our hard work over the last few years to raise awareness of LGBT issues in the workplace and makes us the best place for LGBT people to work in the entire region.”

To qualify for the Stonewall Top 100 Employers index, employers are assessed on their work in ten areas of employment policy and practice – from training to community engagement.

Stonewall collects more than 92,000 anonymous responses from employees on their experience of Britain’s workplace culture and diversity. An overwhelming 93 per cent of non-LGBT employees who responded to the survey, say they understand why their employer is committed to LGBT equality.

The Stonewall Top 100 Employers 2017 report is available to download at: www.stonewall.org.uk