Proud Employers is a programme run by Stonewall UK, a national human rights charity dedicated LGBTQIA+ equality. Formerly known as the Workplace Equality Index (WEI), the Proud Employers programme is designed to support organisations in creating truly LGBTQIA+ inclusive workplaces, by looking at organisational practices for staff across eight areas.
Proud Employers at London Met
London Met is dedicated to ensuring equal opportunities for all, including those who identify as lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer or another sexual minority. We are committed to participating in Proud Employers and applied for recognition in July 2026.
Our commitment to LGBTQIA+ inclusion extends across the whole University. The LGBTQIA+ Staff Network, led by Sebastian Cordoba and Brian Tutt, is exceptionally active, hosting regular events and playing a central role in advising and influencing EEDI governance and strategy.
The Rainbow Room is a physical beacon to the university’s commitment to championing LGBTQIA+ inclusion. It was conceived and realised by Donna Jones (Head of Subject) to provide a safe inclusive space for LGBTQIA+ staff, students, and community partners to meet, socialise and organise. Donna has actively facilitated LGBTQIA+ community partnerships, who use the Rainbow Room to host events for London Met and the wider Islington community. To date, the Rainbow Room remains unique in UK higher education in providing a safe space for LGBTQIA+ communities.
The Gender and Sexual Diversity Research Group (GSDRG), led by Sebastian Cordoba, Wendy Sloane, James Hunting, and Andrew Moran, is an interdisciplinary research hub focused on gender and sexual diversity. With 23 active members, it hosts regular events, including book launches, discussions, and community collaborations.
Building on progress of previous Stonewall submissions, we have created a Stonewall Proud Employers Action Plan 2026–2028 using staff workforce profile data, insights from the 2025 CEI Staff Culture Survey, institutional pay gap analysis, and findings from the Stonewall Focus Groups in May 2026.
Structuring the action plan using the eight areas of practice in the Proud Employers programme, we aim to:
- Develop senior leaders’ LGBTQIA+ inclusion knowledge;
- Systematise senior sponsors for staff networks;
- Implement organisation-wide EEDI objectives and recognition in appraisals;
- Strengthen inclusion of underrepresented LGBTQIA+ groups;
- Develop an institution-wide allyship programme;
- Establish formal governance of the Proud Employers Working Group and Trans Policy Review Working Group;
- Expand positive action training;
- Enhance LGBTQIA+ inclusion in induction;
- Extend LGBTQIA+ consultation on policies;
- Launch the new LGBTQIA+ Staff Network Staff Zone page;
- Increase staff declaration of sexual orientation;
- Extend intersectional LGBTQIA+ pay gap analysis;
- Embed supplier pipeline diversity;
- Pilot our Stonewall Housing Partnership;
- Develop frontline staff LGBTQIA+ inclusion training.
The Stonewall Action Plan 2026-2028 also aligns with existing priorities in the CEI Strategy, Athena Swan Action Plan 2026-2031, Disability Confident Action Plan 2025-2030, People Strategy and University Strategy. It was approved by SLT in June 2026.
Stonewall Proud Employers Working Group
The 2026 submission was led by the Proud Employers Group consisting of Immy Lawlor and Kevin Coutinho (Centre for Equity and Inclusion), Brian Tutt and Sebastian Cordoba (LGBTQIA+ Staff Network Leads) and Tracey Gormley (HR).
