In the last year, DIT has gone from having little visible support for LGBT+ staff to having an ambitious programme of activity on LGBT+ inclusion; leading to the Department jumping 143 places in this year's Stonewall Workplace Equality Index as compared to the previous year. This is down to the tireless efforts of the DIT LGBT+ Network. The fact that the Department's scores in all areas of LGBT+ equality as benchmarked by Stonewall have risen dramatically in the last year is testament to their hard work. They have involved the whole department in the effort to make DIT a place where everyone can be who they want to be at work.

As a result, over 400 staff are wearing rainbow lanyards in support of LGBT+ equality and inclusion. Their tireless efforts have transformed DIT as a place to work for LGBT+ people. As a result;

• 83% of staff surveyed said they would feel confident reporting homophobic or biphobic bullying
• 75% of non-LGBT staff said they felt they had a good understanding of lesbian, gay and bi identities
• 78% of LGBT staff agreed that senior leadership demonstrate visible commitment to LGBT equality
• 97% of LGBT employees and 90% of non-LGBT employees were aware of the work of the LGBT+ Network
• 73% of staff said they considered to be advocates for LGBT equality

The LGBT+ Network have taken a new department without any existing structures in support of LGBT+ inclusion and transformed it into a place where LGBT+ inclusion is part of the culture. They took the initiative to recruit a committee of volunteers who have achieved all of the above, in a single year, on top of their day jobs, and in the context of setting up a new department.