Riverside again named in Stonewall’s Top 100 LGBT-friendly places to work

Riverside has retained its place in Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers’ league table as an LGBT-friendly place to work for the fourth year running.

The 55,000-home housing association joins eight other housing providers nationwide in the top 100, in third position within the sector. Riverside is also the best housing association in the North West for the fourth consecutive year.

With over 430 entries submitted to the 2017 Index, this top 100 accolade is testament to Riverside’s commitment for equality and diversity in the workplace.

The league table represents the best performing employers on Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2017, an annual audit of workplace culture for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) staff.

John Glenton, Chair of Riverside’s LGBT staff group Spectrum, said today: “I am absolutely delighted that we have successfully retained our place in Stonewall’s top 100 LGBT employers list. At Riverside, we embrace and celebrate the diversity of our customers and workforce and this award helps to formally recognise this.

“This recognition supports Riverside in creating inclusive workplaces for LGBT colleagues, which helps me and other LGBT colleagues to be ourselves at work, allowing us to deliver our best results.

“We have an active and engaged LGBT staff group and allies programme, sending out a positive message to colleagues who might be considering coming out at work. We want customers and colleagues to feel comfortable enough to make that choice, and not feel like they have to hide their real selves with Riverside.”

John is attending tonight’s awards ceremony in London, to celebrate the launch of the Stonewall Top 100 Employers 2017.

Duncan Bradshaw, Director of Membership Programmes, at Stonewall, said: “Riverside and all those who have made this year’s Top 100 Employers list have done a fantastic job, and really do put equality and inclusion at the forefront of their work.

“We were thrilled to have 439 submissions for this year’s Index, one of the most competitive yet, and I would like to thank each and every organisation that took part. With your continued efforts and hard work, we will continue to work toward a world where all lesbian, gay, bi and trans staff are welcomed and accepted without exception in their workplaces.”

John added: “During the year ahead we plan to continue to raise the profile and visibility of our LGBT staff group, ensuring colleagues are aware of its purpose and ability to offer support. We also want to increase the number of allies and work towards becoming a trans-friendly employer – for starters, providing gender neutral toilet facilities in all our larger offices.”­