Leading global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has been ranked as one of the Top 50 employers in the UK’s first-ever Social Mobility Employer Index.
The Index is a joint initiative between the Social Mobility Foundation and Social Mobility Commission, in partnership with the City of London Corporation. It ranks Britain’s employers for the first time on the actions they are taking to ensure they are open to accessing and progressing talent from all backgrounds and showcases progress towards improving social mobility in the workplace.
The aim of the Index is to encourage firms to share their initiatives and progress in becoming more inclusive employers and to reveal which sectors and companies are taking the issue of social mobility most seriously.
Herbert Smith Freehills has been ranked 25th in the Index for the work it has taken to tackle this and enable those from lower socio-economic backgrounds to succeed.
Partner Gregg Rowan, commented:
“We are very proud to have been recognised as a leading employer for social mobility. At Herbert Smith Freehills we believe in providing opportunities for people based on personal merit, rather than social or economic background. Creating an environment where everyone has the chance to succeed is a key priority for us."
David Johnston, chief executive of the Social Mobility Foundation, said:
“All the Top 50 firms in the Social Mobility Employer Index should be applauded for the progress they are making towards ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to get in and get on – regardless of their background. They should be congratulated both for having prioritised social mobility and for being prepared to have their processes and practices independently scrutinised.”