Stonewall top 100 ranking shows there is no place for homophobia at Imperial College London

Imperial is one of only two universities in 2010 Workplace Equality Index - News release

For immediate release
Wednesday 13 January 2010

Imperial College London is named today as one of the UK’s top employers for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, sending a signal that there is no place for discrimination based on sexual orientation on the College’s campuses, according to Rector Sir Keith O’Nions.

Imperial’s place at number 79 in Stonewall’s 2010 Workplace Equality Index makes it one of only two universities in the top 100 list, alongside Liverpool John Moores at 85. The Index is published annually to showcase the UK’s best employers for LGBT people, based on the steps they are taking to create a work environment in which all staff feel secure and valued.

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Today’s news reflects the College’s increased focus over the past year on improving inclusivity and equality for LGBT staff, which began with the relaunching of its staff advisory group, Imperial 600, in January 2009. The group’s name reflects the estimation that around 10% of the UK’s population is LGBT, equalling 600 of the College’s 6,000 staff.

Welcoming Imperial’s position in the Index, Rector Sir Keith O'Nions said:

“Any organisation not focused on making sure it is a comfortable and non-hostile place for everyone working within it is failing in its duty, not only to its employees but also to itself. Imperial’s great strength lies in the people who work here and we can’t afford to let talent go to waste due to ignorance or prejudice.

“Making it into Stonewall’s index of top 100 employers is a real milestone for us and sends a strong message that discrimination based on sexual orientation has no place on our campuses and will not be tolerated. My thanks and congratulations go in particular to the members of Imperial 600 for leading the work that has made this success possible.”

Over the past year, Imperial 600 has conducted a thorough audit of all College policies and employee advisory material to ensure that rules against homophobic discrimination are included in equality and diversity statements, and that same-sex couples are explicitly afforded the same rights and status as mixed-sex couples. It has also set up formal training for LGBT mentors and holds monthly networking events for staff.

The group’s future plans include setting up a system to ensure that all companies from which the College obtains goods and services meet its LGBT equality standards. It also hopes that its presence in the Index will support plans to lead the establishment of a London-wide network for LGBT people working in higher education institutions.

Robert Millwood, deputy chair of Imperial 600 and a Senior Grants Administrator in the Faculty of Medicine, said:

“This is a very positive sign that Imperial takes LGBT equality seriously, and for me it means I can relax knowing that my employer values me as an individual. The difference between a university and other employers is that we can inspire people from a young age and need to provide positive role models for students, particularly those interested in an academic career.

“It’s an interesting question why universities haven’t appeared in the Index before, since they are generally thought of as liberal places. Part of the reason may be a certain level of complacency, based on the assumption that there wasn’t a problem to fix. Another issue is simply financial – the private sector generally has a lot more money to devote to this kind of work. Whatever the reasons, the presence of two universities in the top 100 this year is extremely encouraging and I hope many others will follow.”

Dr Laurence Bugeon, chair of Imperial 600 and a Research Fellow in the Department of Life Sciences, added:

“This is wonderful news for Imperial, and a big encouragement for staff that will also positively influence our students’ perception of their learning environment. I hope this will pave the way for other higher education institutions to actively participate in LGBT equality initiatives; a big goal for the future is to work with groups in other universities, share our experiences and together act as role models for our diverse student populations.”

“Double congratulations are due to Imperial College on their achievement in the 2010 Stonewall Top 100 Employers; firstly because they are the first university to appear on the list since the criteria for inclusion became more stringent and secondly because the score needed to win a place in the Top 100 was 10 per cent higher than in 2009,” says David Shields, Stonewall Director Workplace Programmes. “Imperial should be an inspiration to other universities for their achievement – and any organisation that wants to be world class needs to be accessible to and supportive of lesbian, gay and bisexual people.”

Stonewall’s 2010 Workplace Equality Index is available at: www.stonewall.org.uk/wei

More information about Imperial 600 can be found on its website at: www.imperial.ac.uk/hr/equality/sexualorientation/imperial600/imperial600

For further information contact:

Abigail Smith
Imperial College London Press Office
Tel: 020 7594 6701
Email: abigail.smith@imperial.ac.uk

Notes to editors

About Stonewall

Stonewall is the lesbian, gay and bisexual equality charity in Britain. The Stonewall Top 100 Employers list is the definitive national benchmarking exercise showcasing Britain’s top employers for lesbian, gay and bisexual staff.

About Imperial College London

Consistently rated amongst the world's best universities, Imperial College London is a science-based institution with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research that attracts 14,000 students and 6,000 staff of the highest international quality.

Innovative research at the College explores the interface between science, medicine, engineering and business, delivering practical solutions that improve quality of life and the environment - underpinned by a dynamic enterprise culture.

Since its foundation in 1907, Imperial's contributions to society have included the discovery of penicillin, the development of holography and the foundations of fibre optics. This commitment to the application of research for the benefit of all continues today, with current focuses including interdisciplinary collaborations to improve health in the UK and globally, tackle climate change and develop clean and sustainable sources of energy.

Website: www.imperial.ac.uk