BDB Pitmans

How important is Diversity and Inclusion at BDB Pitmans and what is your approach?

Diversity and inclusion (D&I) are one of the five strategic priorities for the firm. We approach diversity and inclusion holistically – it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure we are building an inclusive workplace and recruiting, retaining, and promoting a workforce that is diverse. We do this through two key areas: education and action.

We ensure that all our staff receive training on inclusive behaviours, and continue that education through seminars, webinars, and written content.

We also strongly encourage self-education. Alongside that, we are committed to action: ensuring we have robust policies, processes, and procedures in place that focus on inclusion and eliminating bias.

You are the new D&I Manager at BDB Pitmans. What does your role entail?

It’s really exciting to be the first person in the role of D&I Manager at BDB Pitmans. In a nutshell, my job covers everything related to diversity and inclusion, from developing and implementing our firm-wide D&I strategy to working with our clients to promote diversity and inclusion, and our internal D&I strategy group and employee networks.

In partnership with our Business Impact Groups, I am also responsible for running our annual calendar of D&I-related events, such as our annual D&I Fortnight and Health & Wellbeing Fortnight, as well as, for example, LGBT History Month, PRIDE, Black History Month, and Mental Health Awareness Month.

BDB Pitmans has a number of internal staff networks. Tell us about these D&I initiatives.

We currently have two internal staff networks (which we call ourBusiness Impact Groups): SHINE, our multicultural network; and Best Self (our LGBTQ network).

SHINE is our internal multi-cultural group, established to support all employees at the firm to be their authentic selves and to champion their achievements in the workplace.

The group provides a forum for ethnic minority staff to share issues and discuss their experiences in a safe space, and encourages peer support between ethnic minority employees at the firm.

SHINE liaises closely with the firm’s D&I Strategy Group to raise issues within the firm of matters affecting ethnic minority employees and to assist in identifying ways in which the firm can support its ethnic minority employees, as well as advising as to how the firm can attract, retain and promote diverse talent.

Best Self is BDB Pitmans’ internal LGBTQ+ group, and is the firm’s longest-serving network. The group is open to anyone at the firm identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual,trans, queer, and questioning, as well as other sexual identities (such as intersex, non-binary, and pan sexual). It is also open to our straight allies.

We are also really proud to be a founding member of LeGal BesT, a network of 15 law firms who believe that we can achieve more together to support LGBTQ+ staff.

We intend over the next 12 months to expand the number of business impact groups across the firm.