The principles of inclusion, equal opportunity and diversity are important to us.
At Stewarts, we believe that talented people come from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, respected and able to achieve their full potential.
We recognise that diversity strengthens our firm. Different perspectives help us better understand our clients, challenge our thinking and make better decisions. We therefore strive to create a workplace where people can bring their whole selves to work and feel a genuine sense of belonging.
We are committed to providing equality of opportunity for all. Recruitment, development and promotion decisions are based on merit, performance and potential, ensuring that opportunities are open to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation or socio-economic background.
Beyond meeting our legal obligations, we actively seek to create a culture where differences are respected, diverse perspectives are welcomed and everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
Our Approach
Inclusion is an important part of our culture and forms a key element of our people strategy.
Our focus includes:
- Promoting fair and inclusive recruitment practices
- Supporting social mobility and widening access to the legal profession
- Ensuring equitable opportunities for development and progression
- Fostering an environment where all colleagues feel respected, supported and heard
- Raising awareness and understanding through education, events and open discussion.
We recognise that creating an inclusive workplace requires ongoing commitment and continuous improvement, and we regularly review our policies, practices and data to help us identify opportunities for progress.
Inclusion Committee
Our Inclusion Committee plays an important role in helping to shape and support our inclusion strategy.
The Committee is made up of partners and employees from across the firm, bringing together a diverse range of perspectives and experiences. Working alongside our network of Diversity Champions, the Committee helps to promote awareness, encourage engagement and support initiatives that strengthen inclusion and belonging across Stewarts.
The Committee meets regularly to review progress, identify priorities and consider how we can continue to build a workplace where everyone feels valued and able to thrive.
Social Mobility
We believe that talent should not be limited by opportunity.
Through initiatives such as our partnership with the Social Mobility Foundation and our focus on fair and transparent recruitment practices, we aim to widen access to the legal profession and support individuals from a broad range of backgrounds to develop successful careers at Stewarts.
Our diversity and equality goals
We aim to create an inclusive culture that respects people’s differences and gives everyone a chance to excel at what they do.
Our focus groups
Our focus groups play an important role in helping to foster an inclusive and supportive culture at Stewarts. Working alongside the Inclusion Committee, they provide opportunities for employees to connect, share experiences, raise awareness and help shape the firm’s approach to diversity, inclusion and belonging.
Our focus groups help to create a sense of community across the firm, support awareness events and initiatives, and provide valuable insight into the experiences of colleagues from different backgrounds and communities.
Together, they help ensure that inclusion remains an active part of everyday life at Stewarts.
Our D&I achievements
We are a member of a number of organisations including Stonewall, Interlaw and WorkLife Central.
Our partnerships and accreditations
We work in partnership with a range of organisations that help us challenge ourselves, share best practice, widen access to the legal profession and create opportunities for people from all backgrounds.
These partnerships support our ongoing efforts to build a more inclusive workplace and contribute positively to the wider communities in which we operate.
D&I events and activities
Creating an inclusive culture requires ongoing learning, dialogue and engagement.
Throughout the year, our employee networks and focus groups organise a range of events and activities that raise awareness, encourage conversation and celebrate the diversity of our people. These initiatives help foster a culture where different perspectives are valued, identities are respected and everyone feels they belong.
Diversity statistics
We believe that transparency is an important part of driving progress.
Our diversity statistics provide an overview of the composition of our workforce and help us monitor progress against our inclusion objectives. We regularly review this data to understand where we are performing well and where further action may be needed.
A summary of our workforce diversity statistics.
Gender pay analysis
We are committed to understanding and addressing barriers to progression and representation within our workforce.
Our Gender Pay Gap Report measures the difference between the average earnings of men and women across the firm. It is important to note that this differs from equal pay, which relates to men and women receiving equal pay for the same or equivalent work.
Publishing our Gender Pay Gap Report helps us track progress, promote transparency and identify opportunities to further improve gender representation across all levels of the firm.
The report can be found here – Gender Pay Analysis.
"Respect for the individual, responsibility and trust to grow and develop makes Stewarts an adult and human place to work"
"Strong sound moral leadership with fairness and integrity"
"The positive environment, ability to be yourself and do your job with the support of others makes Stewarts a great place to work"
Responsible Business Report 2024/25
Explore our latest Responsible Business Report for key progress updates and a look at our future direction.
