Touchstone Named 2nd Most Inclusive Employer in the UK by Inclusive Companies Awards

Touchstone has been named the 2^nd Most Inclusive Employer in the UK in the prestigious national Inclusive Companies Awards 2024.

The Inclusive Top 50 Employers is a definitive list of UK-based organisations that successfully promote inclusion across all protected characteristics. This outstanding achievement reflects Touchstone’s passion and drive to create a truly inclusive, engaged and supported workforce, representing the diverse local communities we work with.

This award builds on the previous 2 years, where Touchstone ranked third consecutively in the national Inclusive Companies Top 50 Employers ranking in 2022 and 2023!

In addition, this year Touchstone’s CEO Arfan Hanif was nominated as Chief Executive Officer of the Year and was ‘highly commended’ for his leadership around equality, diversity and inclusion at the Inclusive Companies award ceremony in Manchester. This recognition acknowledges Touchstone’s and Arfan’s personal commitment to diversity and inclusion in the organisation and the wider community.

As Touchstone Chief Executive, Arfan Hanif (he/him), comments:

“I am immensely proud that Touchstone has been recognised as the 2^nd Most Inclusive Employer in the UK. This is an outstanding honour for a charity with very limited resources. Our achievement is only possible with the continued hard work and dedication of our staff, who make Touchstone a supportive, inclusive, safe place for everyone to work and thrive as their authentic selves. I am also honoured to have been nominated as Inclusive Companies’ Chief Executive of the Year and been ‘highly commended’ by my expert peers. It is a privilege to be a part of an organisation that is a proud national leader in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. I learn every day from those around me working hard to support our local diverse communities across Yorkshire.”

This award follows a number of recent recognitions that reward Touchstone’s inclusive approach to employment, including being named 4^th Best national Employer for LGBTQ+ People by Stonewall (and number 1 Charity and Health & Social Care employer) and recognised as a high performing Platinum Employer by Investors in People, especially for our innovative work to make the workplace more inclusive for all and where all can thrive and reach their full potential.

To find out more about Touchstone’s awards and recognitions throughout the years, please visit: https://touchstonesupport.org.uk/about-us/quality-standards-and-awards/.