DIVERSITY SUMMARY AS AT 31 MARCH 2023
We are an equal opportunities employer respecting individuals and encouraging progression based on merit regardless of socioeconomic backgrounds. Where possible we promote part-time and flexible working patterns and remote working.
As required by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and as part of the firm’s accreditation to undertake non-contentious Probate Services, we are required to carry out regular diversity monitoring of our team and to publish the results.
Members of the team were requested to provide diversity data on a voluntary basis in accordance with ICAEW guidance and the results collated from the responses received are set out below.
Our team comprises:
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ICAEW Chartered Accountant Director
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2
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ICAEW Chartered Accountant Trainee
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1
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Other Chartered Accountant Director
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1
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Other Chartered Accountant Qualified
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1
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Other Chartered Accountant Trainee
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1
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Other Qualified Accountant Director
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1
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Other Qualified Accountant
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3
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Other Training Accountant
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4
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Others
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10
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The age profile of the team is:
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16-24
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4
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25-34
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5
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35-44
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4
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45-54
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5
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55-64
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6
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Our team identifies as:
All team members identify now with the sex they were assigned at birth.
5 of the team are single (having never married or registered a civil partnership), 15 are married and 2 are divorced. Of those that are not married, some are co-habiting.
One of our team members considers themselves to have a disability according to the definition in the Equality Act. However, when asked if they considered their day-to-day activities to be limited because of a health problem or disability which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months, the responses from all team members were:
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Yes, limited a little
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1
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No
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22
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Prefer not to say
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1
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Most of our team are White British of English, Welsh, Northern Irish or Scottish extraction but our team also includes one Irish person and one Indian person.
When asked about faith, our team identified themselves as follows:
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Christian
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6
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Sikh
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1
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No religion
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13
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Any other religion
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1
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Prefer not to say
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3
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All of our team members mainly attended a UK state school between the ages of 11 and 16. 13 of those individuals attended a school that was selective on academic, faith or other grounds.
Our team come from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. We asked them “What is the highest level of qualification achieved by either of your parents or guardians by the time you were 18?”, and their replies were as follows:
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1
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had at least one parent who had a degree level qualification.
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2
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had at least one parent who had A level or vocational qualifications.
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9
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had at least one parent who had qualifications that were not vocational and were below A level.
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5
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had parents where neither had formal qualifications.
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7
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did not know what qualifications their parents had.
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We also asked them to think back to when they were aged about 14 and to select from a list the option that best describes the sort of work the main/highest income earner in the household did in their main job. Their selections were as follows:
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1 chose
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Senior managers and administrators usually responsible for planning, organising and coordinating work and for finance, such as: finance manager, chief executive
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8 chose
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Technical and craft occupations such as: motor mechanic, fitter, inspector, plumber, printer, gardener, tool maker, electrician, train driver
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2 chose
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Semi-routine manual and service occupations such as: postal worker, machine operative, caretaker, security guard, farm worker, catering assistant, receptionist, sales assistant
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4 chose
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Routine manual and service occupations such as: HGV driver, van driver, cleaner, porter, messenger, packer, sewing machinist, labourer, waiter/waitress, bar staff.
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3 chose
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Middle or junior managers such as: office manager, retail manager, bank manager, restaurant manager, warehouse manager, publican.
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1 chose
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Traditional professional occupations such as: accountant, solicitor, medical practitioner, scientist, civil engineer, mechanical engineer.
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1 chose
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Long term unemployed (claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance or earlier unemployment benefit.
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1 chose
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Other
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1 said
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They did not know
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2 said
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They preferred not to answer the questions
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Whilst in education:
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5
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Team members were in households in receipt of income support
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15
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Team members were in households that did not receive income support
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3
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Team members do not know if their household was in receipt of income support
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1
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Team member preferred not to answer this question
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3
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Team members were entitled to receive free school meals
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17
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Team members were not entitled to receive free school meals
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3
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Team members do not know if they were entitled to receive free school meals
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1
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Team member preferred not to say
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We asked our team members to tell us the highest level of qualification that they hold, or if they are qualified accountants, what their highest level of qualification was prior to becoming qualified. Their replies are summarised below:
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Degree level
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5
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A level or vocational qualification
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14
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Qualifications below A level
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5
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Whilst working for us currently:
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6
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Team members are a primary carer for a child under 18
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18
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Team members are not a primary carer for a child under 18
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19
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Team members are not involved in the care or support of someone with a long-term physical or mental health disability or problems related to old age.
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2
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Team members provide between 1 and 19 hours of care and support to someone with a long term physical or mental health disability or problems related to old age
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2
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Team members provide more than 50 hours of care and support to someone with a long term physical or mental health disability or problems related to old age
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1
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Team member preferred not to answer this question
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3 team members have taken maternity or paternity leave in the last 5 years and all 3 returned to work for us following their leave. Prior to taking statutory leave they were given additional leave to attend ante-natal appointments where necessary.
Those returning from maternity leave have the right to return to the job they were working prior to their leave. They also have the right to request flexible working. Where flexible working requests were received, they were considered and dealt with in accordance with employment legislation. Flexible working arrangements may now include an element of working from home, but this is assessed on a case-by-case basis.