International law firm Stephenson Harwood has achieved accreditation from the National Equality Standard, making it the fourth organisation ever to be recognised in this way.
The NES sets clear equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) criteria against which companies are assessed. The NES was developed in partnership with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), the Home Office and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
To achieve this certification, the firm went through a detailed review and rigorous assessment against a defined set of criteria across seven standards which are aligned to the core principles of vision and planning, developing and implementing, and sustaining and improving.
Commenting on the accreditation, Sue Millar, commercial litigation partner and diversity champion at Stephenson Harwood, said:
“We want our firm to be a place where our people feel challenged, engaged and supported to fulfil their potential and perform at their best. Creating a culture of inclusion is key to achieving this. It is very encouraging that our efforts to date have been accredited by the National Equality Standard.”
Sue continued:
“This accreditation is a springboard from which to further our efforts in this area, rather than an excuse to rest on our laurels. The accreditation process raised various learnings to further investigate – and to implement – and we are committed to further embedding equality, diversity and inclusion into our business culture.”
The accreditation process is run by EY, who share the firm’s passion for increasing diversity across the professions. Arun Batra, NES CEO added:
“The NES has now become the accepted standard for business across the UK and will make a significant and lasting impact on the way equality, diversity and inclusion is integrated into everyday business. This is not an easy accreditation to achieve: it is testament to Stephenson Harwood’s robust policies and procedures, and its commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive business, that they have met the necessary standards.”