INCLUSION PRIORITY AREA
Social mobility
Identifying and nurturing tomorrow’s talent
We believe potential and talent should determine success – not socio-economic background or schooling. To improve opportunities in the legal sector and make talented people of all backgrounds feel welcome, we engage in some powerful initiatives.
Angus Miln
Social Mobility Partner
Continuing our relationship with Future First
Since 2010 we've worked with Future First to support young people in state schools across the country, working collaboratively to deliver Annual Insight Day events. In the last five years we've provided over 500 students with insight into how the legal profession works and helped them develop the confidence, knowledge and skills to pursue excellence in their academic and working lives.
Over 97% of students who attended our Insight Days would recommend them to someone else.
100% of students said they felt either more or much more confident about their ability to get a job in the future.
95% of students reported that the activities within the Insight Days helped to develop their employability skills for job opportunities they would like to pursue in future.
Over 86% of students reported that attending the session made them want to work harder at school.
Social Mobility Pledge
In 2021 we signed the Social Mobility Pledge, strengthening our commitment to giving opportunities to people from all backgrounds. As part of this pledge, we're committed to:
- Providing structured work experience and apprenticeship opportunities to people from disadvantaged backgrounds or circumstances.
- Reaching out to schools or colleges to provide coaching through quality careers advice, enrichment experience and mentoring to people from disadvantaged backgrounds or circumstances.
- Adopting open employee recruitment practices which promote a level playing field for people from disadvantaged backgrounds or circumstances.
93% Club
The 93% Club is the UK's largest social mobility network for students, supporting social mobility students through university and into employment. In 2021 we became a partner to the Club and will work with it and its members to ensure students from all backgrounds feel empowered to pursue a career in law.
We're delighted to have this opportunity to collaborate with the 93% Club in striving to create a level playing field for all university students, regardless of socio-economic background, to gain access to opportunities in the legal profession. We recognise the value that diversity of backgrounds and experiences can bring to our teams and our wider industry networks. We look forward to making a contribution to the work that the 93% Club is doing to ensure that all talented individuals have an equal chance to get a seat at the table.
Paul Leamy
Partner, Social Mobility Co-chair
Tomorrow's Talent 2021
In July 2021 we held a hybrid version of our social mobility work experience scheme, Tomorrow's Talent, welcoming 15 students from all over the UK. We target students from less privileged backgrounds providing an opportunity to gain work experience in an international law firm.
The new hybrid programme saw students split their time in the office, with the rest of the programme attended virtually. They shadowed our partners and trainees, and spent time with key clients and alumni, including Southampton FC, 1Rebel, and InfaRed.
Thank you very much for the Tomorrow's Talent experience, I really enjoyed it and gained many skills from attending the sessions. Being surrounded by others that are in a similar position to me and want to do law was very supportive too.
Tomorrow’s Talent attendee
Cambridge Unlocked
This year we welcomed two A level students via the Cambridge Unlocked x Form the Future Internship programme. Both interns were keen to pursue a law degree and legal career, and worked closely with our Patents, Corporate Technology and Life Sciences teams as well as enjoying a visit to the London office.
They attended meetings with a range of partners, associates, trainees, paralegals, vacation schemers and colleagues from our Graduate Recruitment and Business Development, Marketing and Communications teams. We were pleased to support this scheme which encourages Cambridge-based students from different backgrounds to gain valuable experience in the corporate environment and build their networks.
It was great to support the internship programme which aims to help young people in the Cambridge area gain experience to succeed in their future careers. I'm a firm believer of paying it forward and know the experience was extremely valuable to our two interns. Thank you to our people in Cambridge, London and Liverpool for supporting the programme and making it happen.
Tasmina Goraya
Partner
I would just like to say a massive thank you to you and the rest of the Taylor Wessing team for welcoming me. I had a great experience and I have learnt so much which I will take forward with me!