Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

It is central to our values that our team reflects the diverse community around us and that everyone at Sharpe Pritchard can be themselves and bring their authentic selves to work. We know that ensuring diversity and inclusion is not just the right thing to do, it yields a wider range of skills, broader experience and perspectives which in turn leads to more innovation, problem solving, strategic development and higher engagement.

We are proud that the firm has a long history of gender equality at every level in the firm and that we buck the trend within professional services in having achieved gender balance in partnership for a number of years – but we want to do even better. Achieving true equity, diversity and inclusion is a core aim at Sharpe Pritchard and we very much welcome applications from all sections of our diverse community, irrespective of race or racial group, sex, sexual orientation, sexual identity, religion or belief, age or disability.

• Our Initiatives
• Disability Support
• Social Mobility
• Gender Pay Gap

We recognise that attracting and retaining the very best members of staff, who are reflective of the diverse communities we serve, is fundamental to our success and that of our clients. We aim to lead by example and be recognised as an inclusive organisation, ensuring anyone can access the profession no matter their background. Examples of initiatives we have supported:

• Since 2022 we have run our Trainee Solicitor Programme; a fully funded 32-month graduate apprenticeship, as well as hosting an insight evening for potential applicants.
• Partnered with the 10,000 Black Interns and ABL Interns initiatives to offer a six week paid internship.
• Continued our work with the PRIME & The Sutton Trust, providing access to work experience to students from low social economic backgrounds.
• Worked with our Charity Partner, Rights of Women to raise vital funds and provide access to work experience to students from low social economic backgrounds.
• Annually invite students from a cold spot, who were asylum seekers or children of Asylum seekers to an open day in our office.
• Created a one year work placement for 3 university students studying towards Business degrees, to allow them to gain industry experience and practical skills.
• Regularly host firm wide talks which raise awareness on the importance of social mobility
• Sharpe Pritchard supports the Hemisphere Education programme which works to build racial literacy within schools through training and support for teachers, school leaders, support staff and students.
• Sharpe Pritchard partnered with Legal CORE who are a leadership-led, cross-firm collective aimed at tackling the underrepresentation of ethnic minority groups in the UK legal sector. The organisation’s goals are to raise the bar for senior involvement, create a best practice forum and strengthen the dialogue on race and ethnicity within the sector.

We are constantly assessing what we can do to ensure that employers are open to talent from all social backgrounds. The award is a recognition of the practical steps we’ve taken and the work we continue to undertake, to improve social mobility.