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British LGBT Award Winners 2017

Category: LGBTQIA+ (Sexual Orientation)

NatWest British LGBT Awards 2017 logo

The 2017 British Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) awards were held on Friday 12th May to celebrate the individuals and organisations that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the LGBT community. The awards recognise those that go the extra mile in order to implement equality, opportunity and fair treatment for all, regardless of their sexuality.

In recent years, the British LGBT Awards have been dubbed the “Gay Oscars” by the press and were the most publicised LGBT event in 2016. This year the event was even bigger and better with the help of Headline sponsor, Natwest. The awards celebrate the UK’s most loved LGBT personalities, innovators and companies. The 2017 awards were hosted by comedian, Alan Carr and presenter, Melanie Sykes.

Here are some of the clients that Diversityjobs work with that have won an award at this year’s event:

Balfour Beatty - Christina Riley, a Senior Planner and the Chair of Balfour Beatty’s LGBT & Allies Affinity network was awarded the Corporate Rising Star Award. The LGBT & Allies Affinity Network has achieved a total of seven high-profile awards since 2015 for its contribution towards diversity in the workplace. These awards include the Inspiring Change Award, the Outstanding Future Leader List and the Rainbow List One to Watch.

Riley works with Balfour Beatty’s LGBT Allies Affinity network co-chair, Rose Donaghey to help drive change within the business and within the construction industry. Riley is an active public speaker for LGBT and mental health support, she also runs the LGBT Construct Network and sits on several LGBT network committees, including Off-Site, Building Equality and National Student Pride; highlighting her commitment to the LGBT community.

Riley speaking about her award said: “I am delighted to have been recognised by the British LGBT Awards for Balfour Beatty’s considerable efforts to improve diversity within our workforce.

“Through Balfour Beatty’s LGBT & Allies Affinity Network and working collaboratively with our colleagues, we’re driving diversity forward and actively sharing the message that sexual orientation and gender identity are not barriers to career success.”

The Balfour Beatty LGBT Allies Affinity Network is one of the Diversity and Inclusion Affinity Networks that Balfour Beatty launched earlier this year and is part of their long-standing commitment to delivering equal opportunities in the workplace. They were one of the first major construction companies to join Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme in 2014 and it is part of the way that the company continues to lead the way in developing an inclusive workplace, ensuring that its employees have the chance to reach their full potential.

Network Rail Four years ago Network Rail created their LGBT Network Group, Archway. This year they have won the LGBT+ Network Group award.

Babak Erfani, acting project manager, spoke on behalf of the LGBT network, Archway. Babak said: “I passionately believe that becoming a more diverse, open and transparent organisation will support Network Rail’s plans to deliver for CP5 and beyond. By launching the Archway network, we will help to create an inclusive culture for all, that supports existing staff and attracts the best people to join our business.”

Network Rail is working to help the industry become more “LGBT friendly” by supporting their LGBT+ staff through the use of initiatives such as the Network Group and ensuring that all of their employees are able to be comfortable being themselves within the workplace. The Network Rail LGBT+ Group offers a range of services such as, employee wellbeing, consultancy on human resources policy and general policies across the business in order to ensure that diversity and inclusion is embraced.

Barclays - Sue Baines, Director of Premier Banking Products & Savings, Premier UK & International at Barclays was this year’s winner of the LGBT+ Inspirational Leader Award. Baines has spoken about the work that Barclays is doing in order to promote diversity and inclusion, not only within Barclays but also within the finance industry and amongst the suppliers that they work with.

Baines highlights the importance of creating a “safe environment” for employees, in order for them to be able to reach their full potential, benefitting both themselves and the business. Barclays work with a range of charities and organisations in order to pioneer the great work that they do surrounding LGBT. Baines speaks at the awards about her “commitment to the cause” and explains that she feels that she has won this award due to her drive to transform society, in order to make it a better place for all.

Baines speaks about her personal experience of being out in the workplace, saying that she “wasn’t authentic in the workplace” for the many years that she was not out. She speaks of how “exhausting” this was; highlighting how important it is that employees feel able to be out in their workplace. She says that coming out made a “significant difference” not only to herself but also to the company.

PwC PwC was this year’s winner of the Employer or Company category at the awards. PwC has its own inclusive business network for Gays, Lesbians and Everyone Else (GLEE), whether they work for PwC or not. This is called GLEE@PwC, a network that provides opportunities for individuals to network, share knowledge and personal and professional development. There is a focus within the network on the values and respect that is held for the diversity of the views, needs and aspirations of those within it.

PwC are part of the Stonewall’s Diversity Champions Programme and in 2016 GLEE@PwC was recognised as a ‘Highly Commended Network Group’, acknowledging the contribution that PwC is making to both its LGBT employees and the wider society through the work that it’s doing.

Diversityjobs is committed to supporting those who create inclusive work environments and helping them to achieve their diversity goals. We work with over one hundred clients who have pledged their own dedication to creating a workplace where everyone can be themselves. If you are an employer who has an LGBT+ Network or who has initiatives in place in order to support the LGBT+ community, Diversityjobs can help you to showcase this to candidates who may not have otherwise considered your company as an employer of choice.

Diversityjobs aims to break down the brand perceptions that individuals may have about your business.

Are you interested in a career with Balfour Beatty? Please click here.

Are you interested in a career with Network Rail? Please click here.

Are you interested in a career with Barclays? Please click here.

Are you interested in a career with PWC? Please click here.

If you are an employer and interested in working with diversityjobs to promote your diversity and inclusion initiatives and attract the best candidates, please call 02037405973 or email [email protected] for more information.

We are also officially recommended by Disability Confident as a step on achieving Employer status, please click here for more information.

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VERCIDA works with over one hundred clients who are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. If you are an employer and interested in working with VERCIDA to promote your diversity and inclusion initiatives and attract the best candidates, please email [email protected] for more information.

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