Stevens & Bolton

Diversity & inclusion (D&I) is a central tenet of our strategy and vision. It is at the forefront of our minds when we make business decisions, as we understand that inclusivity depends on things that all of us do, all of the time; a motto we embrace as a firm in our day to day culture.

​We have used the employee survey outcomes to shape and deliver D&I recommendations to the firm’s management board. These recommendations have been translated into direct, tangible changes to work and life at S&B, as per the below.

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Key initiatives include:

D&I Forum

• One of our standout achievements is the establishment of a robust D&I forum. Comprising individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences across the organization, this forum hosts seven action groups. These groups focus on different aspects of D&I, including LGBTQ+, BAME, mental health awareness, the Mindful Business Charter, family and parenting, Interlaw Diversity Forum (IDLF), and Women in the Law. Each action group has clear objectives aimed at advancing D&I progress in their respective areas.

​Reward Package Review

• In our commitment to closing gender pay gaps and fostering equality, we embarked on a comprehensive review of our reward package. This endeavour underscores our dedication to transparency and fairness.

IDLF and Reignite Academy

• Our support for the Interlaw Diversity Forum (IDLF) goes beyond words. We have taken concrete actions, such as recruiting apprentices into our business service support functions and promoting alternative career paths into law. Our participation in the Reignite Academy, starting in 2019, marked a significant milestone. Since joining, we've successfully recruited seven women into permanent roles, including two finance lawyers

Diversity Month Celebrations

• Throughout the year, we celebrate various D&I events. For instance, during LGBTQ+ History Month, we actively participate by joining webinars and organizing engaging activities like bake-off competitions. International Women's Day is another highlight on our calendar. We've taken steps to promote professional attire donations through the Smart Works Charity initiative, enabling underprivileged individuals to access suitable clothing for professional employment.

​Employee Wellbeing

• The well-being of our employees is a key pillar of our D&I agenda. To ensure a supportive environment, we have nine qualified mental health first aiders who provide confidential and sensitive support as needed. Furthermore, we run a firmwide wellness webinar series that covers a range of sensitive topics, including menopause, miscarriage, men's health, sleep, healthy eating habits, and children's mental health issues.

Mental Health Awareness

• Our dedication to mental health extends to one of our senior associates, who passionately champions mental health awareness. She shares her personal experiences through a weekly blog, offering valuable insights into this crucial topic. Her unwavering commitment led to her nomination for the "Rising Star in Diversity Change" award at the Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards 2022.

Staff Consultation Forum

• In the fourth quarter of 2022, we launched a staff consultation forum. This forum, featuring representatives from management, partners, lawyers, and business services, aims to foster engagement, involvement, and ownership in firm-wide decisions and initiatives. It has already held its first meeting, where positive feedback and actionable ideas were shared, setting the stage for further collaboration and cohesion among our workforce.

Black History Month

• October 2022 marked Black History Month, and our dedicated D&I forum group organized a series of events, including a bespoke webinar with the company Employees Matter on 'Challenges on race within the workplace and how to overcome them.' Additionally, we collaborated with the InterLaw Diversity Forum to arrange a 'Legal fireside chat' with Cynthia Adams, Managing Director & General Counsel for Regulatory, Litigation & Employment of Jefferies.

Women in Law Pledge

• We proudly signed the Law Society's Women in Law Pledge. This pledge is a commitment to addressing gender inequality within the legal profession, with a focus on retention and development opportunities. Our Corporate Tax partner, Kate Schmit, plays a pivotal role in our senior management team, championing gender diversity and inclusion and overseeing our commitment to the pledge. Our collaboration with the 'women in law' D&I action group is shaping an action plan to implement various aspects of the pledge.

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