Slater Heelis

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion 

We have a firm-wide target to focus on diversity and inclusion. We are fully committed to eliminating unfair discrimination, and we see the value that a diverse workforce brings to the firm. We have an EDI policy that covers all protected characteristics and works to value meritocracy, openness, fairness and transparency. The policy applies to all employees, agency staff,  clients,  communities,  suppliers and consultants, whether permanent or temporary.

In 2021, the firm’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion steering group was established. Nine individuals from different levels within the business, ethnicities, and backgrounds run the group.

The committee has rolled out internal communications to educate colleagues on the value and importance of using inclusive language to showcase a welcoming and safe environment by including pronouns on email signatures and on our intranet. The group hosts various staff events to celebrate awareness days and religious holidays and offers a platform for people to voice their opinions or bring forward their ideas on the firm's initiatives.

With colleagues from a range of backgrounds and beliefs across the firm, the ED&I committee has done the groundwork to educate before implementing.

Sustainability

Slater Heelis is an accredited Living Wage Foundation Employer, and with regards to the business’ impact on the environment, we are committed, amongst other initiatives, to:

• efficient printing
• reducing the amount of waste produced by the business
• ensuring that water/electricity is used responsibly by our staff
• recycling materials as extensively as possible
• using technology to lessen the need for travel
• the promotion of agile working to reduce our carbon footprint

Supporting the LGBT Community & Pro Bono

We work with the LGBT Foundation, offering pro bono advice to its service users and through our colleagues who take part in the Pride in Practice Training Academy. This helps our staff truly become LGBT+ allies, including asking LGBTQ+ inclusive questions and understanding discrimination. At Slater Heelis, we have seven LGBT Champions. These are our colleagues who have completed the Pride in Practice training, which required them to complete ten training programme modules with up to 20 hours of learning and development.

We work closely with Switchboard, a national LGBTQ+ support helpline, to assist their service users in accessing the support they need.

Our history of supporting the LGBTQ+ community and initiatives dates back decades. We have participated in Pride and were the only law firm in Manchester to hold an information evening in the Manchester Village about the Civil Partnership Act before it was introduced in 2005.