Cambridge wins employer inclusion award

It collected the employee engagement prize at the Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion (ENEI) awards for its “robust network” of staff consultative forums.

The awards, held last week in London, celebrate the commitment of organisations to achieve diverse and inclusive workplaces.

The success follows the University’s high placing in the 2012 Stonewall Top Employers Survey, which ranks the best places to work for lesbian, gay and bisexual staff. The campaigning charity also recognised the achievement of the University’s LGB&T staff network by awarding it “star performance” status.

More recently, Professor Dame Athene Donald, who was shortlisted at the ENEI awards for Equality and Inclusion Champion of the Year, and other senior academics have joined forces to champion the progression of female staff at Cambridge through a senior gender equality network.

Judges for the ENEI awards came from a cross-section of organisations and are experts on diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Their citation read: “The University of Cambridge has built a very impressive and robust network of consultative forums that influence many people. They have increased membership and shared good practice with excellent results, and it is clear that there are opportunities for everyone to be involved in achieving the University’s core values.”

Dr Martin Vinnell, Chair of the University’s Disabled Staff Network and an attendee at this week’s award ceremony, said: “Cambridge is a world-class institution with strong values and a commitment to progress equality as part of its core business.

“Having an inclusive workplace helps the University meet its mission of contributing to society at the highest levels of international excellence.”