Cheshire Fire and Rescue second most LGBT inclusive workplace in UK
The announcement was made by LGBT charity Stonewall
Cheshire's Fire and Rescue Service has been named as the second most inclusive workplace for LGBTQ+ people.
The announcement was made as LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall revealed its top 100 employers list.
Previously, the service had finished in fourth position in 2018 and third in 2019 and 2020 in Stonewall's rankings.
For 2021, Stonewall also introduced grading systems for organisations. The charity awarded the staff at Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service with a gold standard. The service's LGBT staff network, Firepride, has also received a Highly Commended Network accolade.
As a result, the service is now the most inclusive public sector organisation mentioned on the list, as well as being the top performing emergency service in the UK for the sixth consecutive year.
Speaking about the awards, Chief Fire Officer Mark Cashin from the service said it was an honour to be ranked so high.
“By having a diverse workforce that is fully inclusive we are better prepared to meet all the needs of everyone in our communities," he said.
"Additionally, by actively promoting LGBT+ inclusion, our recruitment catchment is vastly broadened as we strive to inspire people from all backgrounds to consider Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service as an employer. In our latest round of firefighter recruitment, more than 12% of applicants identified as LGBT+, more than double the number five years ago.
“I am immensely proud that our Service has achieved second position against such a broad range of establishments, recognising us as one of the UK’s most inclusive organisations.”