NHS Blood and Transplant given a Silver Award for its commitment and efforts to become an LGBTQ+ inclusive employer

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has received a Silver Award for its commitment to inclusion of lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people in the workplace from Stonewall, the world’s second-largest LGBTQ+ charity.

For twenty years, the charity has been supporting employers to create welcoming workplaces for lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people.

Since joining Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme in 2018, NHSBT has consistently improved its score and ranking. In this latest Work Equality Index (WEI) report, NHSBT scored 58.5 out of a possible 200 points (25.5 in 2018/19 and 49 in 2019/20) and our rank has climbed to 210 out of 403 organisations (ranked 380/445 in 2018/19 and 337/504 in 2019/20).

The award comes as part of Stonewall’s Bring Yourself to Work campaign which highlights the importance of inclusive work environments.

Stonewall has published its Top 100 Employers List and awarded a series of Gold, Silver and Bronze awards to organisations to celebrate their inclusion work.

The charity will also be highlighting the importance of inclusion for LGBTQ+ people and the life-changing impact of being able to bring your whole self to work.

Betsy Bassis, NHSBT Chief Executive, said: "I'm thrilled that Stonewall has recognised our efforts to become a more inclusive organisation for LGBT+ colleagues. This is a great milestone for us, which we will celebrate with great pride. But our work doesn’t stop here. We will use the feedback from Stonewall to make further progress in becoming a workplace that works for all.”

Luke Foster, LGBT+ Network Chair, said: “I’m really pleased to hear this result, which reflects the impact of many LGBT+ equality and inclusion initiatives at NHSBT over the last five years. Obtaining the Silver Award (especially when we had aimed for Bronze) is fantastic!

“As ever, thank you to all those who continue to support the LGBT+ Network in our work, as well as everyone else who is undertaking work to make NHSBT more inclusive. Particular thanks to Matt Clee who co-ordinated this year’s evidence submission to Stonewall.”

Matt Clee, LGBT+ Network Deputy Chair and Stonewall Liaison Officer, said: “To receive a Silver Award as well as an increased score shows how far we have come in LGBT+ equality in NHSBT despite a difficult two years. Although there is more to do, this is a great moment to celebrate.

“I am looking forward to seeing where we go as an organisation as we continue on this journey."

Liz Ward, Director of Programmes at Stonewall, said: “We spend so much of our time at work, and our career can be a huge part of how we define ourselves.

“Every single lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer person should be able to be themself at work. From understanding how HR policies, such as parental leave, will affect them, to being reassured that they can speak openly about their lives and partners at the coffee machine, the impact of inclusive workplaces can be life changing.

“It’s fantastic that NHSBT has gained a Silver Award for their efforts and commitment to creating an inclusive work environment, and we look forward to seeing and supporting the rest of their inclusion journey."