Barclays recognises the crucial importance of attracting, retaining, and developing world class professionals. We are fully committed to a global strategy to cultivate a working environment in which the unique talents of each employee are fully utilised, regardless of race, religion or belief, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality or military service. We have worked hard to formulate a global diversity strategy to embed diversity in all areas and processes at Barclays and have adapted an approach that promotes a bank-wide culture of inclusion.

Barclays has long been a supporter of its LGBT employees, having established our Spectrum Employee Network group more than 15 years ago. Barclays also publicly supports efforts in the communities where we operate. Some examples include being the lead sponsor of London Pride for the past three years, in which over 400 Barclays employees took part; participating in over a dozen pride events in cities across the UK in 2016; supporting a variety of LGBT-focused charities including the Terrence Higgins Trust, Diversity Role Models and Mermaids; including our own LGBT employees in adverts in the media; and serving as an advisor to several companies who are not as far along in their LGBT journey as Barclays is. In addition, Barclays is proud to have been named in January a Star Performer by Stonewall for “repeatedly demonstrating commitment to creating inclusive workplaces by ranking in the top 10 of the Stonewall Top 100 Employers list at least three times in the last five years and for our unwavering and consistent efforts to create inclusive workplaces where staff can bring their whole selves to work.”

Our own LGBT journey continues at Barclays, and although we have made significant progress to date, we will not rest on our laurels. Instead, we are fully committed to carry on this vitally important work going forward in our quest to create an environment at Barclays and beyond which is truly LGBT inclusive.