Several housing associations and charities have been named in the Top 100 Employers 2022, compiled by LGBT charity Stonewall.

Placing 12th, and highest of any housing organisation, is Riverside.

John Glenton, Riverside’s executive director of Care and Support and executive sponsor of its LGBT staff group, said: “At Riverside, it’s important to us that we’re continuously maintaining a strong culture of inclusion for our customers and colleagues to feel comfortable to be themselves, which is why I’m thrilled and proud that, not only have we been recognised by Stonewall once again, but that our higher position and Gold Employer award demonstrate the fantastic progress we have made in the past two years to ensure we’re providing a safer, more accepting, and encouraging environment.

“We know from research that when colleagues feel they can be their authentic selves in the workplace, their engagement with the organisation and our customers is likely to be higher, and they’re more likely to perform better.”

Just two places lower was homelessness charity St Mungo’s.

Steve Douglas CBE, St Mungo’s Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted once again to be recognised within Stonewall’s Top 100 Employer list, a testament to our continuing commitment to inclusion throughout our organisation.

“Celebrating the diversity of our staff, volunteers and our clients has always been a top priority at St Mungo’s. It is important that our teams and services are genuinely inclusive spaces where everyone feels able to be their true selves.”

Sitting at number 23 in the list is Stockport Homes Group, with housing association Home Group further down at 40.

L&Q rounded off the list, placing at 100.

The Stonewall Top 100 Employers list is compiled from the Workplace Equality Index – the UK’s leading benchmarking tool for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace.

Completing the Workplace Equality Index is a voluntary, annual exercise that enables employers to measure and improve their inclusion practice.

This year 403 employers took part from across the public, private and third sectors, with 79,040 employees responding to the Staff Feedback Questionnaire.