Two of Bristol’s largest law firms have been named in a major new report for their continued commitment and achievements in addressing gender inequality in the workplace.
Burges Salmon and TLT have been named in The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality 2023 – the UK’s most highly profiled and well-established listing of employers taking action and making gender equality part of their business strategy at all levels.
Burges Salmon appears in the report for the third year in a row while TLT is included for the first time.
Business in the Community (BITC), the UK’s largest and most influential responsible business network, has been running the report, previously called The Times Top 50 Employers for Women, for 13 years.
Employers included in the report are deemed to be making gender equality part of their business strategy at all levels and inclusion in the list recognises progress and examples of best practices, impact, innovation, and individual achievement.
Burges Salmon employs around 1,000 people in its Bristol HQ and London and Edinburgh offices, while TLT has around 1,400 people – 70% of them women – across its bases in Bristol, London, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Belfast.
Burges Salmon said gender equality was “of paramount importance” to its strategy. In 2020 it set up its Gender Action Plan, which was developed following consultation with its employees and is driven by the senior leadership team.
This underpins the firm’s commitment to ensuring its female colleagues can see demonstrable evidence of a clear route to senior roles within the business, equality in terms of pay and recognition and a strong support network within the firm to help facilitate this. 
Burges Salmon senior partner and chair of its gender taskforce Chris Seaton, pictured, said: “This excellent recognition for the third year in a row continues to reflect the fantastic work being delivered by our Gender Taskforce and also our people-led network for gender balance BBalanced.
“Whilst we recognise that this is a work in progress and a long journey, it’s great to be one of the organisations that have been recognised for shifting the dial in relation to gender equality.”
He said the firm was especially proud of three particular activities that stood out as highlights in its submission this year its coaching programme for those on parental leave, its collaboration with male mental health charity Talk Club and its work to support female promotions across the business.
TLT said gender equality was a key pillar of its strategy to 2025, with four areas of focus – redefining leadership with gender inclusion at its core, expanding flexible working, increasing senior female representation, and creating a respectful culture.
The strategy was introduced in 2019 in collaboration with the firm’s Women’s Equality Network – one of the founding networks that advises and guides the firm on best practice in terms of promoting gender equality. Since its launch, TLT said there had been exceptional achievements in addressing gender imbalances.
Recent action at TLT includes a new enhanced menopause provision for comprehensive support at this critical life-stage and two new apprenticeship pathways to support and improve gender-distribution across our pay quartiles.
Last week the firm announced it had achieved 33% female partner representation two years ahead of its 2025 target.
Strong results have followed with TLT announcing earlier this year a consecutive reduction in its median gender pay gap to a record-low since it began reporting and, more recently, achieving its target of 33% female representation at partner level two years early.
TLT chief people officer Helen Hodgkinson, pictured, said it was an honour to be named in The Times’ prestigious Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality 2023.
“TLT has come a long way in recent years in redressing gender imbalances and I’m proud to have these efforts recognised on a national platform,” she added.
Business in the Community gender equality director Charlotte Woodworth said there had been the highest number of applications to The Times Top 50 compared to any year so far.
“Whilst companies such as TLT and Burges Salmon are doing a brilliant job at reducing gender inequalities in the workplace, it is evident that there is far more work to be done.
“There are still too many employees who face barriers in the workplace, from pay gaps to caring responsibilities. The cost-of-living crisis, following the pandemic has made these inequalities even more noticeable.”
The list is available in a digital supplement hosted on The Times website, as well as by BITC
