St Giles Trust has been recognised for its outstanding contribution to harnessing diversity in the workplace. We have won Diverse Company Award for Charity in the prestigious 2015 Excellence in Diversity Awards. The accolade follows us reaching the finals in the same category in 2014. The Award was presented by host journalist and BBC Breakfast presenter Steph McGovern at a special ceremony in Manchester on Thursday 14 May. St Giles Trust is a leading employer of ex-offenders with over 40% of our workforce having a criminal conviction. We put professionally trained, highly motivated ex-offenders at the heart of our services, using their skills and first-hand experiences to provide peer-led services helping our clients to rebuild their lives. Siobhan Corria, Action for Children, presented the award stating “St Giles Trust breaks the mould and are now regarded as one of the leading employers of people with convictions, priding themselves on being an inclusive service championing diversity in the workplace. The knock-on effect has been significant attracting a number of high profile ambassadors including Sir Richard Branson.” Rob Owen, Chief Executive of St Giles Trust, said: “This is a fantastic endorsement of our staff and volunteers and their commitment to helping people rebuild their lives. The St Giles Trust team firmly believes that, with the right support, anyone can turn their lives around, no matter what their background. There was stiff competition from well known companies, so this is an impressive achievement and we are honoured to receive the award.” The Excellence in Diversity Awards recognise the remarkable efforts of organisations nationwide that have reinforced their commitment to harnessing and strengthening a diverse workforce, embedding equality and inclusion within their value system. The unique awards commend organisations that embrace all aspects of diversity, not just one strand, reflecting how an organisation invests in each and every member of its workforce showcasing individuals and organisations that have shown phenomenal dedication to equality within various sectors across the UK. The awards recognise excellence in all areas of diversity including age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race and religion, as well as highlighting inclusive employers and employees across housing, public, private, charity and education sectors