HSBC is supporting its customers and employees from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community (LGBT+) at a range of Pride events around the world.

The bank was the main sponsor of the Pride parade in Birmingham, the home of the headquarters of HSBC UK, last month. Tens of thousands of people turned out to celebrate at the event.

Further festivals are due to take place in dozens of locations around the world. HSBC employee groups will also be organising workshops and discussions in the bank’s offices and branches to mark LGBT+ Pride.  

“We are proud to be involved in Pride with our colleagues and customers. We are committed to making HSBC a more inclusive organisation where people feel they can be themselves, and where our workforce is as diverse as the customers we serve.”

Birgit Neu, Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion at HSBC.

Research by Out Leadership into the attitudes of LGBT+ employees in organisations around the world suggests that 39 per cent believe that their organisation is currently not doing enough to encourage LGBT+ diversity.

And only 35 per cent believe that companies are making the most of the potential business advantages of LGBT+ inclusion, the research found.

As part of HSBC’s efforts to provide more inclusive services for customers, HSBC recently updated its life insurance policies in Hong Kong so that same-sex and unmarried couples can now be listed as beneficiaries during the application process.

Ed Moncreiffe, CEO of HSBC Insurance in Hong Kong, said:  “We understand our customers have different needs and preferences, and we are committed to removing the barriers that used to prevent people from accessing insurance to guarantee a secure future.”

Last month, HSBC was recognised with three accolades at the 2018 Community Business LGBT+ Awards in Hong Kong, including the LGBT+ Network Award for the HSBC Pride employee resource group in Hong Kong.