Proud Employers Accreditation

Why become accredited?

We feel that Proud Employers Accreditation is an important and recognisable standard to achieve. - 2025 Applicant 

The Accreditation is a practical tool. It will help you understand what’s working well and how you might target your resources most effectively as you develop your work. By working through a recognised framework with the support of inclusion experts you can effectively report on your current work and create impactful strategies for the future.  

Achieving Proud Employers Accreditation also sends a strong message to your employees, prospective employees, clients, service users, customers and wider sector that you are an inclusive employer.  

Through nine areas of practice, the accreditation helps you take a holistic look at your LGBTQ+ inclusion work.  Accreditation will help you structure your work on LGBTQ+ inclusion guided by a proven good practice framework. The feedback you receive will help you understand and celebrate what is working well. It will also ensure you have a practical framework for continued improvement.

Those who apply for accreditation will receive detailed feedback from our team of inclusion experts, as well as an interactive action planning meeting to identify opportunities for growth. You will also receive an exclusive report detailing trends, sector analysis and examples of innovative practice to help you remain at the forefront of LGBTQ+ inclusion work. 

Why does LGBTQ+ inclusion matter at work? 

Despite the progress made towards LGBTQ+ equality over the past 50 years, LGBTQ+ people still experience challenges, including in the workplace: 

Our research shows that two in five (39 per cent) of LGBTQ+ employees still feel the need to hide the fact they are LGBTQ+ at work. Over a third of employees (36 per cent) have heard discriminatory comments made about an LGBTQ+ colleague and more than 1 in 4 LGBTQ+ people (26 per cent) experienced negative comments or conduct from customers or clients because of their identity.   

Inclusive workplaces are not only fairer - they perform better. Diverse teams bring broader perspectives, drive innovation and improve decision‐making. Research shows that diverse teams are 87% more likely to make better decisions [4] and that organisations with above‐average diversity generate 45% of their revenue from innovation [5].  

Who can apply? 

This accreditation has been designed to support all organisations, regardless of size, sector or budget. If you are a multinational organisation, you can also use this accreditation to receive support with your global LGBTQ+ inclusion work.  

Last year, we received applications from over 15 sectors with 85 employers achieving accreditation. Applications for this year are now open - get in touch to find out more! 

What is the accreditation?

Through eight areas of employment policy and practice, the accreditation scheme helps you take a holistic look at your LGBTQ+ inclusion work. Accreditation will help you structure your work on LGBTQ+ inclusion guided by a proven good practice framework.

You'll receive detailed feedback from Stonewall’s team of inclusion experts, who will help you understand and celebrate what is working well. We will also share best practice and support you to leverage participation to achieve impact. It will also ensure you have a practical framework for continued improvement.

You’ll also receive an exclusive report detailing trends, sector analysis and examples of innovative practice to help you remain at the forefront of LGBTQ+ inclusion work.

The Global Workplace Equality Index 

We’re excited to share that the Global Workplace Equality Index is evolving into the Stonewall Proud Employers Accreditation. This new accreditation will replace the separate UK and global benchmarking, creating one universal standard for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion.

More details will follow soon, but in the meantime, please get in touch if you have any questions.

Why is LGBTQ+ inclusion important?

1. Research tells us that LGBTQ+ people are a growing part of society with one in ten 16-24 year olds identifying as lesbian, gay or bi - meaning they represent a increasing portion of your future customer and client base, and prospective employees.
2. Despite more people feeling able to be open about their identity, we know that a third of LGBTQ+ people don’t feel like they can be themselves at work and over half have experienced discrimination. This negatively affects staff but it’s also bad for business.
3. Organisations that don’t take LGBTQ+ inclusion seriously risk losing talent, reduced productivity and meet the expectations of prospective staff.

What recognition is available?  

There are four levels of accreditation to showcase your work and provide a clear structure for progression. 

• Accomplished: A strong start. Solid foundations are being laid, and meaningful steps are underway.
• Champion: Demonstrating consistent success. Influencing others through example. Actions are taking root and having a growing impact
• Leader: This organisation is setting the standard, with impressive, consistent, and wide-reaching impact.
• Trailblazer:This is leadership at its finest. Trailblazers are at the forefront of change, with exceptional commitment and results that inspire others. 

We will also be celebrating the fantastic work being done across all sectors and offering awards including Top Employers, Network Group of the Year and Senior Champion of the Year.

There will also be Stonewall Innovation Awards up for grabs for particularly groundbreaking work on LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion. Awards will be judged based on the information provided in your accreditation application, and do not require an additional form. Award winners, who consent to being included, will feature in our Proud Employers Report.

What levels of accreditation do you offer?  

There are four levels of accreditation to showcase your work and provide a clear structure for progression.  

• Accomplished: A strong start. Solid foundations are being laid, and meaningful steps are underway.
• Champion: You are demonstrating consistent success and influencing others through example.
• Leader: You are setting the standard, with impressive, consistent, and wide-reaching impact.
• Trailblazer: This is leadership at its finest. Trailblazers are at the forefront of change, with exceptional commitment and results that inspire others. 

If your organisation achieves accreditation, you will receive a celebration pack that includes your new accreditation logos for use on your communication channels. You will be able to use your accreditation for two calendar years.  

Being accredited sends a clear message to potential employees, clients, customers, and the wider sector we are an inclusive employer. We appreciate that an inclusive workplace is crucial for attracting the best employees, including LGBTQ+ talent who look for visible commitments to inclusion. – 2025 Applicant 

Are there other ways our work can be recognised?  

Yes, in addition to achieving accreditation, each year we will celebrate some workplaces through our Innovation Awards, which recognise creative and inspiring initiatives that we believe others can learn from. All applications are automatically considered for Innovation Awards by applying for accreditation. 

What feedback do we receive?  

We have a three-stage process for delivering feedback to those who apply for accreditation:  

Stage One: Receiving your score and Feedback Report 

Within 12 weeks of receiving your application, we will be in touch to share your score and a written feedback report. At this point you will be invited to schedule your Action Planning Meeting. 

Stage Two: Action Planning Meeting  

On an agreed date, we will deliver your Action Planning Meeting. The purpose of your Action Planning Meeting is to reflect on your areas of strength, identify opportunities to take your work to the next level, and begin to address any barriers to success in a space facilitated by a member of our team. 

Stage Three: Annual Proud Employers Summit and Trends Report 

Finally, each year we will invite all Proud Employers to come together at our Summit to launch our Trends Report. The Proud Employers Summit and our Trends Report will highlight the trailblazing practice being undertaken in workplaces, explore the current trends impacting inclusion, celebrate our Innovation Award Winners and support you to develop your work further.  

What’s the cost of accreditation?  

The Proud Employers accreditation is a membership benefit for Proud Employers. Members can start their application via the Proud Employers Members Hub.  

If you are a not a member of the Proud Employers programme, you can enter the accreditation and receive detailed feedback and practical action planning support from an inclusion expert for a one-off fee.  

What's the application process?

By applying for the Stonewall Proud Employers Accreditation, you will receive: 

• Automatic entry for a Stonewall award
• A feedback report and an action planning meeting with an expert inclusion consultant within 8–12 weeks of applying.
• If achieved, an accreditation logo to use on your internal and external communication channels
• An invitation to attend our spring celebration and awards ceremony
• Access to an exclusive trends report which draws together data from all organisations who apply for accreditation to provide you with emerging good practice in LGBTQ+ inclusion. 

Who can apply for accreditation?  

The Proud Employers scheme is suitable for a wide range of organisations. We work with large and small organisations across the public, private and third sector. 

The Proud Employers accreditation is a membership benefit for Stonewall Proud Employer members. Members can access additional support when preparing their application.

If you’re not a member of the programme you can enter the accreditation and receive detailed feedback and practical action planning support from an inclusion expert for just £1,000 (+VAT).