Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) is now third in the LGBT charity Stonewall’s prestigious Top 100 Employers list for 2019.
The Service jumped another place from its 2018 position and is the highest performing public sector organisation in the UK.
Cheshire Fire is also the best performing emergency service in the UK due to its efforts to engage lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) staff, volunteers and communities.
It is the seventh consecutive year the service has featured in the Top 100.
It assesses organisations ranging from local authorities to international investment banks against criteria including engagement with staff and communities, training and leadership.
Cheshire Fire has also been the highest performing UK emergency service in 2016, 2017, 2018 and now 2019.
Stonewall has also recognised the authority as a Star Performer, a new commendation which recognises consistent high performance.
In addition, the LGBT Employee Network Group, FirePride, has been rewarded with a Highly Commended Network Group 2019.
Cllr Bob Rudd, chair of Cheshire Fire Authority, said the achievement was testament to the organisation’s consistent and continued work around equality.
He said: “Residents can be assured the services we provide, be it emergency response, safe and well visits or youth work, are delivered in a way that’s inclusive of the wonderfully diverse communities we serve.
“No one from the LGBT community should hesitate to engage with our staff or volunteers and the service’s third position on the Stonewall Top 100 list provides that reassurance.”
Cheshire Constabulary also features in the top 20, coming in at 18th position.
In total, 445 employers across the public, private and third sectors entered the 2019 index.
This year Stonewall received more than 92,000 responses to the staff survey, making it one of the largest national employment surveys in Britain, with 17,300 LGBT respondents.
Cheshire Chief Fire Officer Mark Cashin, also the senior sponsor of the service’s LGBT staff Network Firepride, said: “It is important anyone joining our workforce knows they can be themselves at work so they can fully commit to the important work they do for our communities.
“We want the best people to work for us, regardless of background, so I would urge anyone who would like to join us to keep an eye on our website for opportunities such as on-call firefighter recruitment at a number of our fire stations, wholetime firefighter recruitment and support staff vacancies.
“It is testament to the ongoing engagement of all our staff that once again we have been recognised as the top emergency service for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the Stonewall Top 100 list, endorsing our commitment to LGBT inclusivity.”
Darren Towers, Stonewall’s executive director, said: “Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and all those who have made this year’s Top 100 Employers list are making a huge difference to workplaces, services and communities across the UK.
“LGBT-inclusive employers play a crucial role in changing society by using their power and influence to protect and support LGBT people.
“More than a third of LGBT staff still hide their identity at work for fear of discrimination.
“That has an impact on productivity, wellbeing and more and shows we still have lots to do.
“However, with organisations like Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service displaying such a strong commitment to LGBT equality, we are one step closer to creating a world where all lesbian, gay, bi and trans employees are welcomed and accepted without exception.”
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