The University of Birmingham Rainbow Network has been shortlisted for Outstanding Employee Network in the 2018 European Diversity Awards (EDA).
The University of Birmingham Rainbow Network provides a space for staff and PhD students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning, as well as friends and allies of these communities, to meet and develop contacts across the University.
The Rainbow Network also works to improve the working environment for LGBTQ staff and supports the University’s civic mission to engage with local communities and promote LGBTQ equality more widely. The committee has created a series of LGBTQ staff profiles, covering a range of job roles and departments across the University, to show new employees that the University is an LGBTQ friendly employer and help them to feel able to be ‘out’ at work.
Earlier in 2018, LGBTQ advocacy charity Stonewall acknowledged the Rainbow Network’s contribution to LGBTQ equality within the University and in the broader community by naming them 2018 West Midlands Network Group of the Year.
Tom Syder, Chair of the Rainbow Network at the University of Birmingham said:
“It is exciting and gratifying that the Rainbow Network have been shortlisted for a European Diversity Award, especially after winning the Stonewall award for West Midlands Network Group of the Year in May. This reflects the hard work put in by colleagues across the University to tackling the challenging issues which perpetuate inequalities for LGBT people. Just to be shortlisted for this prestigious award is an amazing achievement which should make all of those individuals very proud.”
Professor Robin Mason, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) and Executive Lead for LGBT Equality at the University of Birmingham said:
“The Rainbow Network’s fantastic contribution to LGBTQ equality in the University has rightly been recognised for the second time this year, and they wholly deserve the recognition of being shortlisted for this prestigious award. Congratulations once again to colleagues across the University who have played a part in this; your work is appreciated and will be felt by our LGBTQ staff and students for years to come.”
The University of Birmingham was founded in 1900 on an anti-discrimination ethos accepting men and women on an equal basis. Today, as a community of over 150 nationalities in one of the UK’s most vibrant cities, we remain committed to promoting equality, diversity and fairness irrespective of age, disability, gender, pregnancy or marital status, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or gender identity.
Further details about the Rainbow Network.
For more information, please contact Dominic Benson, Deputy Director of Communications or on +44 (0)121 414 5134.
The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 6,500 international students from over 150 countries.