Leading LGBT charity and campaign group Stonewall has rated Nottinghamshire County Council as the best public sector organisation to work for in the East Midlands.

It followed the publication of Stonewall’s national Top 100 Employers index, published earlier this year, which named the county council as the 30th best employer overall and highest ranked county council in the whole of the UK. It is the fifth successive year that the council has been named in the national top 100.

The award was presented at the Stonewall Midlands Seminar Awards, held at De Montfort University in Leicester.

And in a double-win for the authority, the council’s LGBT Staff Network – which supports LGBT staff, promotes awareness of LGBT issues and provides advice on making services more inclusive – was named as the East Midlands Network Group of the Year.

Marjorie Toward, chair of the council’s Corporate Equality Group, said: “I am proud that the county council and its staff have been recognised, once again, for the fantastic work that goes on across the organisation to create an innovative, supportive and inclusive workplace.

“Our reputation as an employer which embraces equality is an huge advantage when it comes to recruiting and retaining excellent employees and provides reassurance to the public of Nottinghamshire that their county council is committed to fairness and respect for all, regardless of gender, sexuality or ethnicity.”

Recent work carried out by the county council to champion LGBT issues includes a new requirement on suppliers to ensure staff delivering services to the public on behalf of the county council are trained in equality awareness.

The council also runs a Proud Allies scheme for staff. The scheme – which has over 400 members – is open to all employees who want to show publicly they are committed to supporting their LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans) colleagues and those in the wider community.

In compiling the Stonewall Top 100 Employers index, employers are assessed on their work in ten areas of employment policy and practice – from training, to community engagement.

Pictured is Coun Kevin Rostance, chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council, with members of the council’s LGBT Staff Network during a recent LGBT Mental Health Awareness event to coincide with the International Day Against Homophobia, Tansphobia and Biphobia.