Exeter received the Gold Award for its commitment to the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people within the workplace.

University receives Gold Award for commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion at work

The University of Exeter has received a Gold Award for its commitment and efforts to become an LGBTQ+ inclusive employer, it has been announced.

The award has been given by the LGBTQ+ equality charity, Stonewall, as part of its Workplace Equality Index (WEI), which highlights the importance of inclusive work environments. This award is one of the series of accreditations the university used to guide its work towards creating an inclusive culture.

Exeter received the Gold Award for its commitment to the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people within the workplace.

The University has also achieved its highest-ever ranking in the Stonewall WEI ranking 148 out of the 403 organisations that participated in WEI 2022.

Professor Janice Kay, Provost said, "A key driver for our Strategy 2030 is to lead progress towards creating a fair, socially just and inclusive society. Our community is working hard towards creating an inclusive and compassionate culture where everyone can thrive. While there is always more to do, we are very pleased to see recognition of our LGBTQ+ inclusion work, reflecting the commitment of Exeter students and staff."

Liz Ward, Director of Programmes at Stonewall (she/her) said:  "It’s fantastic that the University of Exeter has gained Gold Award for their efforts and commitment to creating an inclusive work environment, and we look forward to seeing and supporting the rest of their inclusion journey.”

The University engages with external accreditations to use evidence-based frameworks for driving forward its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) activity.

Linda Peka, Chief College Operations Officer and Deputy Registrar said, "Our aspiration is to make meaningful and impactful cultural change and using external accreditation as a framework for change has proven really effective. We work closely with our LGBTQ+ students and staff to shape and deliver on our LGBTQ+ Inclusion goals."

This has been demonstrated through other accolades, such as an institutional Athena Swan Silver award in recognition of its gender equality work.

Date: 23 February 2022