Page 21 - DWF Annual Report 2017

2. Engaging our people

The way we do business is based on our core values and reflects the behaviours that we want to be known for.
We strive to recruit, nurture and retain high-quality and motivated lawyers, talented managers and inspiring leaders.

Why this is important
We recognise that by engaging our people we will drive our business forward responsibly and effectively. We want
to create opportunities for our people to make a difference, further their careers and generate a sense of pride and
belonging to DWF.

Strategic progress: Recruitment

Strategy Progress
• Our people will always be developed Sector-leading performance • Named a diversity pioneer
and rewarded on merit according to • Top 100 Employer (36th place) in in The Lawyer’s inaugural
what they contribute, not time served. Stonewall LGBT Benchmarking diversity audit.
Index (11th in legal sector).
• We acknowledge the benefits of People survey
a diverse workforce and we'll • Top 10 Employer on Working • 73% believed that leaders
continue to push this agenda to the Families (second year running). supported diversity and inclusion.
benefit of us as a business as well
as our clients. • 1st Law Firm in the UK to • 80% felt they were treated with
achieve and retain ClearAssured dignity and respect at work.
• We know that you don’t need to have status for identifying and
a practising certificate to be good – removing barriers to disabled • 80% felt their line manager
we will become market leaders in talent. considered their life outside
talent management ensuring that we of work.
become the employer of choice in • Recognised as one of the
this market segment. most innovative Law Firms
on diversity – Financial Times
Innovative Lawyers Report.

Strategic progress: Culture and values

Strategy Progress

• Our culture and values are everything. Talent management CSR
Our people not only want a great place • DWF Academy investment: • DWF is one of only 34 businesses
to work but they take great pride in improved firm-wide induction, in the UK to currently hold
creating it. Every team member will targeted NQ Programme, Business in the Community’s
live our values and exemplify our Mentoring and Peer Group CommunityMark.
brand, recognising that acting as a Networks, Business Skills
team we will be more successful than • 36% of our people were engaged in
acting as a group of individuals. workshops with 74% attendance,
2,191 online learning modules volunteering activities over the last
completed in FY 16/17 (now being 12 months against a kpi of 30%.
• We will constantly champion new
ideas, challenge the norm, have an used internationally), targeted • Through the DWF Foundation,
opinion and get involved, be programme focused management we have distributed £156,356
authentic, collaborative and, above as well as business development. in grants, supporting 61 charities
all, always keep our promises. so far.
Everyone in DWF has an equal voice • Established network of People
and should be willing to use it to Partners. Divisional Leadership • Nearly 2,000 young people
make our business a better business. Programmes delivered or under across Birmingham, Edinburgh,
way. 360 Feedback rolled out for Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool,
• As a team and as individuals, we will Career Level 1s. London, Manchester, Newcastle
give and receive feedback, convey • Talent is being evaluated against and Preston have participated in
honest opinions, decisively and with 5 STAR Futures, engaging 600
confidence, we will commit to doing our strategy, with succession and volunteers in 2016 investing 1100
things differently and we will never leadership risk being addressed. hours of their time.
shy away from challenges. Open
communication and transparency
become the norm.
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