STONEWALL NAMES CHANNEL 4 ONE OF BRITAIN’S TOP 100 LGBT-INCLUSIVE EMPLOYERS

30 January 2020

• Channel 4 ranks 35th on LGBT charity’s annual list of inclusive employers – marking its first time on Stonewall’s Top 100
• Broadcaster also recognised as a top trans employer

Channel 4 has been named one of the most inclusive employers in Britain by lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality charity Stonewall. The broadcaster is this year placed 35th - marking it’s first time on the Top 100 Employers list.  

Channel 4 has also been recognised as a top trans employer – something only 20 organisations in the top 100 have been recognised for.

Climbing a staggering 112 places to its current ranking – the broadcaster’s position has been driven by its increased work and expertise in 10 areas of employment policy and practice, including its networking group 4Pride, it’s trans-inclusive workplace policies, it’s senior leadership allies, and its engagement with LGBT+ communities.

This year’s Top 100 was the largest ever with 503 employers entering, demonstrating their commitment to LGBT workplace inclusion.

Alex Mahon, Chief Executive of Channel 4 said: “Standing for the underrepresented, challenging stereotypes and promoting diversity and inclusion is at the heart of why Channel 4 exists and so we are utterly thrilled to make it in to the Top 100 LGBT+ inclusive employers list for the first time.

“I am so proud that we have climbed 112 places and even more so that we are in the exclusive group of top Trans places to work. My team and I are determined to continue to make Channel 4 one of the most LGBT+ inclusive workplaces in the country and to drive lasting positive change within and across the media industry and the whole of the UK. This can be achieved in many more workplaces by following the pro-active action plan we have implemented, such as creating a Transitioning Policy, expanding our Families Policy and introducing Gender Neutral Toilets alongside the strength and brilliance of our 4Pride LGBT+ network.”

Sanjay Sood-Smith, Stonewall’s Executive Director of Workplace & Community Programmes, said: “We are delighted to name Channel 4 as one of our Top 100 Employers this year. All the organisations in this year's Top 100 Employer's list are playing a huge role in improving the lives of LGBT people and should be very proud of their work.

“We still don't live in a world where everyone is able to be themselves in the workplace, as we know more than a third of LGBT staff (35 per cent) hide who they are at work. By taking steps to make their workplaces supportive and welcoming of all lesbian, gay, bi and trans people, businesses like Channel 4 are bringing us closer to a world where everyone is accepted without exception.”

As part of the Top 100, Stonewall collects more than 109,000 anonymous responses from employees on their experience of Britain’s workplace culture and diversity. This year, 81 per cent of LGBT employees who responded to the survey said they feel able to be themselves in the workplace.

Stonewall’s 2018 Work Report revealed more than a third of LGBT staff (35 per cent) have hidden they are LGBT at work and almost one in five LGBT employees (18 per cent) have been the target of negative comments from colleagues because of their identity.

Stonewall’s Top 100 is compiled from submissions to the Workplace Equality Index, a powerful benchmarking tool used by employers to assess their achievements and progress on LGBT equality in the workplace, as well as their wider work in the community and on service provision.

To see the full list, please visit: https://www.stonewall.org.uk/full-list-top-100-employers-2020

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For more information, please contact: Kayley Rogers krogers@channel4.co.uk