Bristol law firm Barcan+Kirby’s efforts to prioritise gender equality has earned it a top accolade in the city’s Diversity Awards.
The firm collected the Business Award for Gender at the annual awards, which were staged last weekend and showcase the efforts of businesses, individuals, community organisations and statutory groups across the city to embrace diversity and equality.
Some 53% of the partnership share at Barcan+Kirby is held by women while 75% of its business support management team is female. The firm’s employee gender ratio stands at 3:1 female to male. Out of its 168 staff, 139 are female.
Last year the firm introduced additional maternity leave for mothers of premature babies and promoted one of its solicitors to partner while on maternity leave in a move that made its partnership gender balanced.
The firm is also an advocate for flexible working with a third of employees part-time and/or working flexibly.
Barcan+Kirby executive partner Anna Wilson said: “We are thrilled to be recognised for our efforts to make gender equality the norm at the firm.
“We value the knowledge, legal expertise and experience of all our staff and embrace the idea that individuals are recognised on merit and the valuable contribution they make.
“We are committed to being a firm that can evolve and be an employer that can deliver a work environment fit for the modern workplace where our staff can realise their ambitions and deliver for our clients.”
Barcan+Kirby has six offices across Bristol and South Gloucestershire providing advice and guidance to individuals and businesses
The third annual Bristol Diversity Awards, which had 32 categories, were staged by city-based community radio station BCfm and sponsored by UWE.
Other business category winners included:
- Business Award For Race/Ethnicity – Bristol-based events, media and music brand Nite Vision
- Business Award for Disability – Adaptive Martial Arts, which is run by disabled people for disabled people.
- Business Award for Age – Rayan Wilsion, for his vision to create a national gym chain as well as promoting himself as an internationally renowned high performance sports coach.
- Business Award for LGBT+ – University of Bristol LGBT+ staff network. The network, led by Suzanne Doyle and Nick Skelton, has become a visible, social, engaged and active network.
Pictured: The Barcan+Kirby team collect their award from ceremony host Dr Zainab Khan, UWE faculty academic director of student experience, far left. Photo by John Craig, @JonCraig_Photos
