Travers Smith wins the inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Excellence Award at the UK Pensions Awards 2018
Travers Smith LLP is delighted to have won the inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Excellence Award at the UK Pensions Awards 2018, which took place on 24 May 2018.
The UK Pensions Awards, which are now in their 21st year, are widely regarded as the industry's most prestigious accolades. They recognise the excellence of the advisers, providers and investment managers that offer the highest level of innovation, performance and service to occupational pension schemes and their members. The newly introduced Diversity and Inclusion Excellence Award aims to reward those firms that best promote diversity and inclusion within their own workforce as well as those who have contributed to industry-wide initiatives in this area.
The award is a significant achievement and endorses the scale of Travers Smith's investment in creating a market-leading diversity and inclusion programme. The firm's Pensions Department, under the leadership of Head of Department Daniel Gerring, has made a major contribution to the programme which, through the firm's D&I Board, has delivered a number of initiatives to promote diversity in the modern workplace. The Pensions team has also worked alongside clients, and other industry players, to promote diversity in the wider pensions industry sector. Key initiatives have included: Creating a new charitable organisation, Refugees at Home, which connects those with a spare room in their home with asylum seekers and refugees in need of accommodation. Since February 2016, Refugees at Home have helped provide over 75,000 nights of accommodation for vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers entering the UK. Building a partnership with LGBT+ charity Just Like Us on the launch of a new mentoring programme which aims to give LGBT+ graduates the skills, confidence and support as they transition from university life to full-time employment. Providing significant pro bono legal advice for LGBT organisations, including Stonewall, SeriesQ, Just Like Usand the RVT, which gave our people greater exposure to LGBT issues and a deeper understanding of what more can be done to promote greater inclusion Embedding a culture of agile working and alternative ways of working across the pensions group to better support the diverse needs of our people and client.
Head of Pensions and Chair of the LGBT+ Group Daniel Gerringsaid: "We are very proud to have won this important award which acknowledges our commitment to diversity and inclusion not only within Travers Smith, but also the pensions sectors and the wider society. I would especially like to thank all those who work in our Pensions department, and the wider Pensions sector, for their passionate engagement with our diversity programme. We have found that diversity and inclusion are of tremendous importance to our clients and we look forward to working alongside them as well as other industry stakeholders on promoting this important agenda in the pensions industry sector."
Managing Partner David Patientcommented: "Many congratulations to our Pensions team on winning this important award. Creating a diverse and inclusive culture is a key business priority for Travers Smith. Our focus on diversity is integral to how we serve our clients, develop our people and play a leadership role in the legal and business community."
CSR & Diversity Director Chris Edwards said: "I am proud to be part of a firm which demonstrates such a strong and genuine commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion. The award won by our Pensions team demonstrates that we are committed to playing a leadership role, not only in the business world but also within wider society, and in driving positive change at organisational and individual levels across industry sectors."
