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Stonewall announce sponsor for 2013 workplace conferences

Besi Besemar March 7, 2013

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Barclays is to sponsor Stonewall’s 2013 series of Workplace Conferences. The conferences, in London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Cardiff promote good practice around sexual orientation in the workplace.

Ben Summerskill
Ben Summerskill

Stonewall chief executive, Ben Summerskill, said:

“We’re absolutely delighted, and very grateful to Barclays for their support and encouragement over so many years.”

Mark McLane, Barclays Head of Global Diversity and Inclusion, said:

“Barclays is firmly committed to good practice at work and we’re pleased to support Stonewall in this area, one in which they are in the forefront of thought leadership.”

The first 2013 conference, for 500 delegates, is at London’s QEII Centre on Friday, April 26.

Keynote speakers include Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Paralympics GB women’s sitting volleyball team captain Claire Harvey, BBC presnter of Dragon’s Den, Evan Davis and Valerie Soranno Keating, CEO of Barclaycard.

Former BBC newsreader Alice Arnold will also interview senior lesbian, gay and bisexual role models from a range of workplaces.

Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme – providing advice and support on recruitment, retention and customer engagement – now has 615 members. Companies include IBM and Herbert Smith Freehills from the private sector and the Royal Navy and MI5 in the public sector, who employ almost ten million people worldwide between them.

The programme is now the largest non-governmental intervention of its kind in the world.

Barclays, a long term support of the work of Stonewall disappointed many when they put pressure on Stonewall to withdraw the Bigot Of The Year category at last years Stonewall Equality Awards. Cardinal Keith O’Brien, the most senior cleric in the Catholic Church in England and Scotland, the recipient of the award resigned last week asking for forgiveness after admitting sexual misconduct with priests throughout his ministry.

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