Diversity Report 2023

We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefits of a diverse workforce. We seek to employ the best person for a role regardless of race, gender, religion or any other parameter and promote a working environment free from any form of discrimination or victimisation on any grounds.

We periodically monitor the diversity profile of our team through an anonymous collection of data. During this we gather statistics on age, gender, ethnicity, disability, faith, sexual orientation, socio-economic backgrounds and caring responsibilities.

The following is a summary of responses to the ‘Diversity Data Collection Questionnaire’ distributed to staff in March 2023.

This year’s survey highlights that as a firm, we have a good mix of male and female staff, together with a broad overall age band within the workforce. We have limited mixed ethnicity but this purely reflects the local area.

This questionnaire was obtained from the ICAEW. More information about the ICAEW’s Diversity Reporting can be found here.

Number of responses received: 48 (94.1%)

Role in the Firm

ICAEW Chartered Accountant Partner 2
Manager 3
Qualified 3
Training 4
Other Chartered Accountant Partner 2
Manager 3
Qualified
Training 3
Other Accountant Partner 1
Manager 1
Qualified 3
Training 2
Legally qualified Partner
Manager 1
Qualified
Training
Other legal Partner
Manager
Qualified
Training
Other profession Partner
Manager 2
Qualified
Training
Direct Support Staff Partner
Manager 2
Qualified 8
Training 0
Other Partner
Manager
Qualified 1
Training
Prefer not to say 9

Age

16 – 24 4
25 – 34 6
35 – 44 8
45 – 54 12
55 – 64 12
65+ 3
Prefer not to say 3

Gender

(a) What is your registered sex at birth?

Female 29
Male 17
Prefer not to say 2

(b) Which gender do you identify with?

A woman 29
A man 17
Non-binary 0
In some other way / self-describe 0
Prefer not to say 2

(c) Is the gender you identify with the same as your sex registered at birth? 

Yes 46
No 1
Prefer not to say 1

Disability

(a) Do you consider yourself to have a disability according to the definition in the Equality Act?

Yes 3
No 43
Prefer not to say 2

(b) Are your day-to-day activities limited because of a health problem or disability which has lasted,
or is expected to last, at least 12 months?

Yes, limited a lot
Yes, limited a little 6
No 40
Prefer not to say 2

(c) If you answered “Yes” to any of the previous two questions please identify which of the
health problems or disabilities below apply?

Cognitive / learning 2
Digestive / continence 1
Manual dexterity 1
Mental health 1
Mobility 0
Physical coordination 0
Physical strength 0
Sensory 1
Not applicable 2
Other 1
Prefer not to say 3

Ethnic Group

Asian/Asian British Bangladeshi
Chinese
Indian 1
Pakistani
Other Asian 1
Black/African/Caribbean/British African
Caribbean
Any other Black/African/Caribbean/Black British
Mixed/multiple ethnic groups White and Asian
White and Black African
White and Black Caribbean
Other mixed/multiple ethnic background
White British/English/Welsh/Northern Irish/Scottish 43
Irish
Gypsy or Irish Traveller
Any other White background
Arab Arab
Other Other ethnic group
Prefer not to say 3

 

Faith

Buddhist
Christian 20
Hindu
Muslim 1
Jewish
Sikh
Any other religion
No religion 24
Prefer not to say 3

Sexual Orientation

Bisexual 2
Gay man 1
Gay woman / lesbian 0
Heterosexual / straight 41
Other 0
Prefer not to say 4

Socio-Economic Background

(a) If you went to University (to study a BA, BSc course or higher), were you part
of the first generation of your family to do so?

Yes 12
No 8
Did not attend 25
Prefer not to say 3

(b) What type of school did you mainly attend between the ages of 11 and 16?

Attended school outside of the British Isles 0
State-run or state-funded school non-selective 43
State-run or state-funded school – selective on academic, faith or other grounds 1
Independent or fee-paying school 1
I don’t know
Prefer not to say 3

 

Social mobility

(a) What is the highest level of qualification achieved by either of your parent(s)
or guardian(s) by the time you were 18?

At least one has a degree level qualification 8
At least one has A Level or vocational qualifications 14
Qualifications below A Level / vocational 8
No formal qualifications 8
I don’t know 5
Not applicable 1
Other
Prefer not to say 4

(b) What is the highest level of qualification you hold, or if you are a qualified accountant
or lawyer, held prior to becoming qualified?

Degree level 18
A Level or vocational qualification 14
Qualifications below A Level / vocational 7
No formal qualifications 2
I don’t know 2
Not applicable 1
Other 0
Prefer not to say 4

(c) Did either (or both) of the following apply at any point during your school years?

(i) Did your household receive income support?

Yes 4
No 32
I don’t know 8
Prefer not to say 4

(ii) Were you entitled to free school meals?

Yes 1
No 38
I don’t know 5
Prefer not to say 4

(d) Thinking back to when you were aged about 14, which best describes the sort of work
the main / highest income earner in your household did in their main job?

Modern professional occupations such as: teacher/lecturer, nurse, physiotherapist, social worker, welfare officer, artist, musician, police office (sergeant or above), software designer 5
Clerical and intermediate occupations such as: secretary, personal assistant, clerical worker, office clerk, call centre agent, nursing auxiliary, nursery nurse 3
Senior managers and administrators usually responsible for planning, organising and coordinating work and for finance such as: finance manager, chief executive 2
Technical and craft occupations such as: motor mechanic, fitter, inspector, plumber, printer, tool-maker, electrician, train driver 14
Semi-routine manual and service occupations such as: postal worker, machine operative, security guard, caretaker, farm worker, catering assistant, receptionist, sales assistant 4
Routine manual and service occupations such as: HGV drive, van driver, cleaner, porter, packer, sewing machinist, messenger, labourer, waiter / waitress, bar staff 6
Armed forces personnel for example soldier, airman, naval or military policy
Middle or junior managers such as: office manager, retail manager, bank manager, restaurant manager, warehouse manager, publican 4
Traditional professional occupations such as: accountant, solicitor, medical practitioner, scientist, civil/mechanical engineer 2
Short term unemployed (claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance or earlier unemployment benefit for a year or less)
Long term unemployed (claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance or earlier unemployment benefit for more than a year)
Inactive (excluding those that are retired)
Retired
Not applicable
I don’t know 1
Other 2
Prefer not to say 5

 

Caring responsibilities

(a) Are you the primary carer for a child or children under the age of 18?

Yes 9
No 37
Prefer not to say 2

(b) Do you look after, or give any help or support to family members, friends, neighbours
or others because of either long-term or mental ill-health / disability or related to old age?

No 40
Yes, 1-19 hours per week 5
Yes, 20-49 hours per week
Yes, 50 hours or more a week
Prefer not to say 3

 

Marital Status

What is your marital or civil partnership status?

Single (never married or never registered a same-sex civil partnership) 16
Married 24
In a registered same-sex civil partnership
Separated (but still legally married or still legally in a same-sex civil partnership
Divorced or formally in a same-sex civil partnership which is now legally dissolved 3
Widowed of surviving partner from a same-sex civil partnership
Other 2
Prefer not to say 3

Maternity/Paternity

(a) Have you taken maternity or paternity leave in the last 5 years?

Yes 4
No 44

(b) If yes: (i) Did you return to your current employer after the leave?

Yes 4
No 5
Not applicable 2

(b) If yes: (ii) Did your current employer give you additional leave for ante-natal appointments?

Yes 1
No 1
Not applicable 13

(b) If yes: (iii) Has your employer offered you flexible working arrangements?

Yes 2
No
Not applicable 13

(b) If yes: (iv) Has the ability to work from home been an important aide in your return to work?

Yes 0
No 2
Not applicable 12