Celebrating five years of impact with the Bristol Women in Business Charter

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Barcan and Kirby had the honour of sponsoring the Bristol Women in Business Charter Five-Year Impact Celebration, which took place on 28th April at Bristol City Hall. The exclusive gathering brought together business leaders, change-makers, and advocates for gender equity from across the city.

Five years of progress towards gender equity

The afternoon celebrated five years of impact, progress and action towards gender equality and inclusivity for women in business, in Bristol and beyond.

The highlight of the event for us was hearing from such an incredible range of speakers and panellists, who shared their insights, experiences, and hopes for the future of inclusion in the workplace.

Samantha Castle, Partner in our Employment Law team, delivered a thought-provoking keynote address. She reflected on her own career journey and shared how the women within the firm have continually inspired and shaped her professional goals.

Leading the way at Barcan and Kirby

In her keynote speech, Samantha highlighted the strides Barcan and Kirby has made in promoting gender equality across the organisation.

The numbers speak for themselves:

  • 85% of our employees are women
  • Two-thirds of our board members are female
  • 60% of our Partners are women, with the majority working flexibly
  • 84% of our management team is female

We’re also proud that all board members work part-time or flexibly, alongside 66% of our management team. Across the firm, 61% of our people work in a hybrid way, and 60% work flexibly.

Sam also shared an important statistic that speaks volumes about our culture: 80% of maternity leavers return to work at Barcan and Kirby. This is a powerful reflection of the support and flexibility we offer working mothers.

With her employment law expertise, Samantha rounded off her keynote by discussing some of the positive legislative changes that have taken place over the past five years; developments that continue to help shape a fairer, more inclusive workplace for everyone. Read more about some of these employment law changes here.

The Big Panel

The Big Panel discussion was a standout moment, featuring leading voices from some of the Bristol Women in Business Charter’s largest employer signatories. Panellists featured senior leaders from policing, healthcare, law, education, and local Government, bringing together rich perspectives on the progress achieved and the work still to be done. Panellists included:

Their passion, honesty, and commitment to accelerating change were incredibly motivating.

Behind the statistics

We also loved the fast-paced and powerful ‘Five Minutes That Matter’ talks. In just a few minutes, these speakers gave us real, personal insights into the lived experiences behind the statistics:

  • Tara Miran, Civic Engagement Manager, Race Equalities, Community Engagement & Inclusion Consultant, and Social Scientist, spoke about allyship and the importance of creating spaces where everyone can thrive.
  • Kyrby Brown, Access Coordinator at WECIL (West of England Centre for Inclusive Living), challenged us to rethink how physical accessibility reflects true inclusion.
  • Bianca Jones, award-winning Mental Health & Anti-Racism Training Provider and MHFA England Associate, reminded us of the urgent need to centre race in our diversity and inclusion efforts.
  • Matt Humberstone, Founder of The Plus Importance Project, spoke about amplifying LGBT+ voices and the richness that true inclusion brings.
  • Lewis Wedlock, a Social Psychologist, encouraged us to critically examine masculinity and its role in shaping a more equal society

We are so proud to have been part of this milestone event, celebrating the achievements of the Charter and looking ahead to a more equitable Bristol.

About the Bristol Women in Business Charter

We became a member of the Bristol Women in Business Charter in 2023, reinforcing our dedication to gender diversity. Launched in 2019, the Charter provides support for businesses to embrace diversity, increase representation and empower women to thrive in their careers. Find out more about the Bristol Women in Business Charter here.

Further information

This event reminded us of the progress Barcan and Kirby has made and inspired us to continue our work in shaping a more inclusive future for our colleagues.

Feel inspired to join us? Check out our latest vacancies here. For anything else, call 0117 325 2929 or fill out our online enquiry form.

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