U.K.’s Security Service M15 Snags Employer of The Year Award Chosen By LGBT Staff

by Dalal Nasif / Jan 20, 2016 11:32 PM EST

British intelligence agency MI5 is voted as the most LGBT-friendly workplace in the U.K. (Photo by David Silverman/Getty Images)

The British spy agency M15 was voted as Employer of the Year in a Stonewall survey asking employer attitudes from the point-of-view of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) employees from about 400 organizations in the United Kingdom.

Over 60,000 respondents coming from these organizations anonymously took part in the poll marking this year's Workplace Equality Index, a powerful benchmarking tool used by employers to assess their achievements and progress on LGBT equality in the workplace according to Stonewall, as the highest in the number of participants in all its existing years so far.

The country's intelligence agency is more than glad to have received the award as Director General Andrew Parker explains that for the organization, "Diversity is vital for MI5, not just because it's right that we represent the communities we serve, but because we rely on the skills of the most talented people whoever they are, and wherever they may be."

"This accolade from Stonewall is a great acknowledgment of the continued progress we have made over recent years in ensuring we draw on the widest possible pool of talent in our vital work," adds Parker thanking the gay rights movement for the recognition as written by Time.

Other best performing employers in the survey were Lloyd's Banking Group, National Assembly for Wales, B3 Living, and Pinsent Masons, who made the rest of the top five. Additionally, Role Model of the Year was awarded to David Ali who is a caretaker at Tower Hamlets Homes and LGBT Employee Network Group of the Year went to St Mungo's, the homeless charity.

Stonewall's chief executive Ruth Hunt praised the winners and said that top-ranking organizations were not only improving the lives of their staff but that they are also "reaping business benefits".

"We know that people perform better when they can be themselves and it's been proven that diversity among staff leads to a more productive, positive and creative workplace environment," said Hunt as reported by BBC News.

As expressed by Hunt, the British spy agency M15 has made fantastic strides in creating an inclusive workplace, and has appeared on the Stonewall Top 100 Employers list since 2012. Diversity helps set up more welcoming working atmosphere inspiring employees to be more productive.