2004 WINNER
Hannah Rate(l), Raena Connolly and Samantha Clark of Accenture
What gave Accenture the edge was an ambitious event,
Inclusion & Diversity, held over one week.
This consisted of a series of workshops, seminars and master
classes directed at engaging people at all levels in the issues
associated with diversity. The programme sought to be
innovative, stimulating and provocative. Topics covered
included disability, sexual orientation, gender, age, religion and
belief, work/life balance and parenting. The programme also
brought in some of the firm's senior executives.
During the week, vox pop interviews were filmed. Out of this
came a competition for the best 30 second pitch on the
business case for diversity. The firm also sponsored the
London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, a first for Accenture, and
gave away free tickets to staff. The whole programme
generated a huge amount of interest and enthusiasm.
Surveys indicated that 84% of attendees had had their
awareness raised, and 96% thought it time well spent.
Accenture acted on its beliefs and the success and innovative
nature of its programme fully justifies its winning place.
RUNNER UP
Kirkland & Ellis, a US-based firm of over 1,000 lawyers with a London office, has pursued diversity for over ten years.
Its diversity committee, with members from different offices and grades, reinforces this commitment by focusing on areas where diversity matters, such as recruitment. The committee has a significant budget, sponsoring a range of organisations, events, and activities. Some are held within the firm; others are community-related.
The firm’s training department works closely with the committee to ensure that all lawyers are aware of development opportunities, no matter their backgrounds or interests.
The firm funds an annual minority law school scholarship programme for two students from a minority background. To date, over $300k has been provided under this programme. The firm also runs a women’s leadership initiative, a forum for discussion of issues relevant to women in the firm and in the wider legal community.
The firm has put in place a wide ranging programme to match its beliefs. The views of people at all levels in the firm are incorporated in the programme. There is also recognition that individual needs vary and flexibility is provided to allow the needs of each person to be met.
3RD PLACE
With 24% of its partners from an ethnic minority background, UHY Hacker Young is the only accountancy firm in the top 30 to reach double figures, with its London office having people from Australia, China, Afro-Caribbean/Africa, Malaysia/Asia, Russia, Spain and Portugal – to name just a few.
This by itself is only part of the story. The firm believes that ethnic diversity is critical to client service. With a geographically diverse client base, the firm encourages people to ensure that the client’s cultural background is taken into account. This is made easier by the deep understanding of the role of diversity in the firm.
The firm has a diversity policy running through all its people management processes and these are promoted through the firm. Senior management ensure that the diversity policy is practised, and there is a low tolerance of non-compliance. Extreme care is taken to ensure that all recruitment advertisements meet the high standards set inside the firm, and hidden discrimination is also edited out.
The firm sees itself as being at the forefront of the professional debate on equality, diversity and ethnic pragmatism for almost a generation.