Derby City Council’s position as one of the country’s best employers for lesbian, gay and bisexual staff has been confirmed in the latest Top 100 list compiled by lesbian, gay and bisexual charity Stonewall.

After narrowly missing a place in the top 100 of last year’s Stonewall Workplace Equality Index – coming in at number 111 – the Council has leapt up the rankings to number 38 in this year’s list, out of a record 378 organisations which entered the index.

“We are doing our utmost – at a time of uncertainty for many staff – to ensure we are a model employer,” said Cllr Harvey Jennings, leader of Derby City Council. “We are delighted with this ranking and will be striving to perform even better in next year’s rankings.”

Roger Vardey accepts the award from Stonewall’s Ben Summerskill

Wayne Sills, the Council’s lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender champion said: “We work very closely with the LGBT community in Derby through groups such as Derbyshire Friend and the Derby Pride Committee as well as Derby County Football Club and this networking has helped us with this tremendous score.”

The index ranking is based on a benchmarking exercise and David Shields, director of workplace programmes said the standard of entries was rising year on year.

“This year’s Workplace Equality Index profiles employers who are leading the way in sexual orientation equality best practice. These employers understand that people perform better when they can be themselves and are working with the index to create inclusive workplaces for lesbian, gay and bisexual staff.”