WORCESTER solicitors firm Thursfields is celebrating after becoming the first law firm in the West Midlands outside of Birmingham to become an accredited member of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme.

Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme is Britain’s leading best-practice employers' forum for sexual orientation and gender identity equality, diversity and inclusion.

The firm joins more than 750 members across public, private and third sectors to help create inclusive and accepting environment for almost a quarter of the UK workforce.

Associate solicitor Thomas Evans, who secured Thursfields' accreditation said: “Thursfields is proud to take the lead in the West Midlands legal sector by joining the programme.

“In business, it can be all too easy to just pay lip service to equality and diversity issues. At Thursfields, we’ve recently established an Equal Allies team who are committed to support and promote an inclusive approach to the legal services we provide to clients and the work environment we offer to our colleagues.”

Nick O Hara, managing director of Thursfields, said: “We’ve always striven to ensure equality for all employees across our offices and we’re excited to be working with Stonewall to continue supporting our staff.

"Joining the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme will help us to ensure that both our current and potential workforce feel safe in the knowledge that they can be themselves working here.

Elliott Pentland of Stonewall said “In joining the Diversity Champions programme Thursfields has shown a commitment to creating an LGBT inclusive workplace, standing up for what they believe in and recognising that people perform better when they can be themselves.

“Our members are forward thinking and continue to be role models within their sector who want to recruit, recognise and support the very best talent. "Working with Thursfields in Worcestershire & the West Midlands enables us to reach deeper into communities and empower individuals in those areas."