Diversity and inclusion

Everyone at Mills & Reeve brings a unique perspective and ideas to the team and we do everything we can to help each person to thrive.

Having respect for each other is one of our key values, and this is reflected in our extensive diversity and inclusion policies, which cover everything from recruitment and selection to parental leave and flexible working.

We’re known for how well we treat our people and in 2023 achieved Platinum Investors in People status. We're serious about continuously developing our culture and our policies. If we find barriers we can remove, we do. For instance, we encourage flexible working to ensure we adapt to different lifestyles and offer annual leave for religious festivals such as Eid, Christmas and Ramadan.

What have we been doing?

Our growing diversity, inclusion & wellbeing team supports the firm to reach these ambitions, working with five staff networks as well as with teams and individuals across the firm, to collaboratively drive change. As well as embedding inclusive practices in firm policies, activities and processes, the team has implemented a number of programmes and initiatives aimed at attracting and retaining a diverse colleague base, increasing belonging and psychological safety across the firm, and providing education and awareness raising activities to drive increased inclusion.

We aim to be a firm where we recruit, retain, and promote the best people, in a place where everyone thrives and can be themselves, and to create strong partnerships with our clients and communities. We're a Disability Confident Employer and encourage employees, clients and everyone we work with to let us know about any needs or accessibility issues so we can address these effectively and discreetly.

Our activities include:

  • Enhancing policies/processes to create inclusive structures
  • Raising awareness, encouraging discussion and role modelling through events, resources, and communications
  • Enhancing psychological safety by providing supportive environments and encouraging a culture of mutual respect
  • Delivering programmes that support our objectives to build a more diverse workforce
  • Working with individuals and teams across the firm to embed diversity, inclusion & wellbeing in decision-making

We have five staff networks across the firm, which provide supportive environments for people (and allies) to share work-related issues of common interest and concern in a safe environment, support professional development of people in their communities, and disseminate best practice. You can find out more about these below.

Our staff networks

Ability

Raising awareness of disabilities, neurodiversity and health conditions, and supporting staff and allies.

Balance

Supporting the firm as we work towards greater gender equity.
  

PACT

Building a supportive community for parents, carers, and their allies at the firm.
  

Reach

Our race, ethnicity and cultural heritage network supports Black, Asian and racially minoritised staff.

Spectrum

Support and representation for anyone who identifies as a member of a minority sexual orientation or gender identity.

Pay gap reports

Our reports incorporate pay gap statistics on gender, ethnicity and disability, as well as wider updates on diversity, inclusion and wellbeing.

Recruitment at Mills & Reeve

As our firm grows, we're committed to ensuring that we have a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we live and work in. We actively celebrate our colleagues’ different abilities, faiths, ethnicities, sexual orientation, and gender, and welcome applications from everyone, regardless of their personal background.

If you have any support requirements, or adjustment, additional or cultural needs please do get in touch at the earliest opportunity so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Click here for some examples of adjustments we can implement. Please contact us at recruitment@mills-reeve.com or sarah.freeman@mills-reeve.com if you would like a confidential chat.

Mills & Reeve are signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme. As part of the scheme we will offer an interview to disabled applicants who best meet the minimum/essential requirements of the role within their application. Please confirm on your application form if you wish to disclose a disability and take part in this scheme.